Ground-handling staff at all Portuguese airports entered the fourth and final day of a nationwide walkout this morning, slowing baggage belts and check-in lines at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, and Madeira. Although operations are expected to normalize after 11:59 p.m. local time tonight, the SIMA-led union has already approved four fresh four-day strikes across August, setting the stage for continued travel turbulence during Europe's peak summer season. Travelers connecting onward to the United States or elsewhere in Europe should prepare for rolling knock-on delays and potential baggage backlogs.
Key Points
- Why it matters: The strikes hit Portugal's busiest holiday weekends, threatening missed connections and EU 261 claims.
- Current walkout runs July 25 - 28, with delays peaking during morning departures.
- Next Strike windows: August 8 - 11, 15 - 18, 22 - 25, and August 29 - September 1.
- Affected hubs include Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), Faro (FAO), Funchal (FNC), and Azores gateways.
- Union SIMA accuses SPdH/Menzies of unpaid premiums and sub-minimum base wages.
Snapshot
SIMA, representing roughly 2 400 ramp and passenger-service agents at SPdH/Menzies, began the first four-day stoppage at 12:00 a.m. Friday. Lisbon's morning bank saw at least 15 departures canceled and dozens delayed, while Porto and Faro reported reduced baggage-handling capacity. Airport operator ANA advised passengers to arrive three hours early, travel light, and confirm flight status before leaving for the airport. Unlike air-traffic-control strikes, minimum-service rules for ground staff are limited, so delays often cluster at the start of the duty day when overnight aircraft must be turned.
Background
Portugal's ground-handling sector has been volatile since SPdH emerged from the 2023 bankruptcy of Groundforce and was later acquired by Menzies Aviation. Workers say promised back-pay totaling €2.5 million remains outstanding, night-shift premiums are unpaid, and staff parking fees have risen despite stagnant wages. Negotiations stalled in early July when management offered a 3-percent raise versus Portugal's 4.2-percent inflation rate. SIMA responded by filing five consecutive weekend Strike notices, each running Friday through Monday, to maximize pressure during the country's busiest tourism month. August disruptions could overlap with French air-traffic-control Protests, multiplying regional knock-ons.
Latest Developments
Morning delays ripple beyond Lisbon
By 11 a.m. local time, flight-tracking boards showed average departure delays of 38 minutes at Lisbon and 27 minutes at Porto, according to union tallies. Several TAP Air Portugal flights left "without bags," creating mountains of luggage in sorting areas and forcing couriers to forward items on later flights. Airlines rerouted some narrow-body services to Seville and Vigo, busing passengers back across the border to free up scarce ramp slots. Faro and Madeira saw slower belt returns but fewer outright cancellations thanks to lower weekday traffic.
August strike schedule confirmed
Late Sunday, SIMA formally registered additional stoppages for the weekends of August 8, 15, 22, and 29. Each will begin at 0000 Friday and end at 0000 Tuesday, mirroring this week's pattern. The union warned that walkouts could extend into September if wage arrears remain unresolved. Menzies said it is "committed to constructive talks" and has activated contingency contractors, yet acknowledged staffing shortfalls could persist during early-morning waves. TAP and EasyJet have issued flexible rebooking waivers for flights touching Portuguese airports during the affected windows.
Analysis
Ground-handling strikes rarely grab headlines like pilot or controller walkouts, yet their impact on the travel experience can be equally severe. Unlike air-traffic-control disputes-where European regulations mandate protected flight corridors-ramp operations rely on a finite pool of licensed agents with airside clearance. When those workers down tools, airlines face a cascade of operational headaches: aircraft cannot be marshaled, bags cannot be loaded, and jet-bridges must remain parked. The resulting bottlenecks ripple through network schedules, forcing carriers to cancel or combine rotations to preserve fleet balance. For U.S. travelers, Portugal often functions as a southern trans-Atlantic gateway, feeding connections to Brazil, Africa, and the Mediterranean. Disruptions here therefore propagate far beyond the Iberian Peninsula. With four strikes still on the calendar, proactive itinerary management-rerouting via Madrid, packing carry-on only, or shifting to midweek flights-may prove essential. EU 261 compensation applies only when the airline is at fault; industrial action by a third-party handler usually exempts carriers from paying cash, though they must still provide meals, hotels, and refunds. Travelers should document delays carefully, keep receipts, and lean on travel-insurance policies for incidental expenses.
Final Thoughts
Today's limited-scope delays will fade by Tuesday, yet Portugal's unresolved labor dispute signals more headaches ahead. Booking flexible fares, allowing longer connections, and traveling with carry-on luggage remain the smartest defenses against an August repeat of this week's chaos. Stay vigilant, monitor airline advisories, and plan for contingencies as the calendar marches toward the next Portugal airport Strike.