Portugal Airport Strike Triggers Summer Baggage Delays
Ground-handling staff at Portugal's busiest airports walked out at dawn on August 2, beginning the first of five peak-summer, Friday-to-Monday strikes. Travelers should brace for slower baggage delivery-often 30 to 45 minutes-selective flight cancelations, and longer lines at check-in, though air-traffic control remains fully staffed. Here is what you need to know before you fly.
Key Points
- Why it matters: Ground-handling walkouts affect Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, and Azores hubs.
- Travel impact: 30-plus departures already scrapped; baggage reclaim delays of up to 45 minutes Unverified.
- What's next: Four more four-day strikes are set for every August weekend.
- Expect longer queues at check-in and security.
- ATC and refueling services are operating normally.
Snapshot
The SIMA union representing SPdH/Menzies workers is staging rolling four-day strikes-0000 Friday to 0000 Tuesday-on July 25-28 and every weekend in August. Lisbon (Humberto Delgado), Porto, and Faro handle 70 percent of Portugal's summer traffic, so even limited walkouts ripple across the network. ANA Aeroportos has warned passengers to contact airlines before leaving for the airport and to allow extra time for connections. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) echoes the advice, noting that industrial action "may cause delays" but that essential services such as air-traffic control remain unaffected.
Background
Portugal's ground-handling sector was privatized after Groundforce collapsed in 2021. Successor SPdH/Menzies now faces accusations of paying below the national minimum wage, withholding night-shift premiums, and reneging on a €2.5 million back-pay deal signed in 2023. Union leaders say talks stalled in June, leaving strike action as their only leverage during the busiest travel month. The first July stoppage canceled more than 40 flights and snarled baggage halls at Lisbon for several hours, prompting airlines such as TAP Air Portugal and British Airways to pre-emptively trim schedules for the August walkouts.
Latest Developments
Cancellations remain selective, but delays widespread
By midday Saturday, TAP had scrubbed eight Lisbon rotations, while British Airways dropped its Heathrow-Faro round-trip. Low-cost carriers easyJet, Ryanair, and TUI kept schedules intact but warned of ground-delay knock-ons. ANA reported average turnaround times rising by 20 percent, chiefly due to slower baggage off-loading. Travelers connecting onward in Europe should pad itineraries by at least two hours.
Carry-on packing tips for strike weekends
- Use a 21-inch (or smaller) rolling bag that meets EU carry-on limits (55 × 40 × 20 cm, 22 lbs).
- Pack liquids in a single 1-quart zip-bag on top for swift security screening.
- Roll or compress three interchangeable outfits; wear bulkier shoes onboard.
- Slip chargers, meds, and a fold-flat tote inside the under-seat personal item.
- Bring a collapsible water bottle and protein bars in case concessions close early.
Analysis
Unlike previous one-day protests, this rolling action weaponizes Portugal's choke-point weekends, when inbound tour charters and outbound holidaymakers overlap. Because ATC and fueling are unaffected, flight schedules remain technically viable; the weak link is on-the-ground manpower for loading, boarding, and baggage. Airlines with self-handling rights, notably Ryanair, can mitigate disruption, while network carriers reliant on SPdH/Menzies must choose between thinning rotations or risking cascading delays. For travelers, the key variable is checked luggage: even when flights operate, reduced ramp crews struggle to unload bags inside the EU-mandated 20-minute service window, leading to carousel waits that stretch toward an hour. Opting for carry-on, verifying flight status frequently, and budgeting extra connection time are the most effective safeguards. If your flight is canceled within 14 days, EU261 compensation applies unless the airline proves the strike is an "extraordinary circumstance," a point still contested in European courts.
Final Thoughts
The Portugal airport strike will test the resilience of summer travel plans every weekend in August. Flying hand-luggage-only, arriving early, and monitoring airline alerts can blunt most headaches. Stay flexible, and your holiday should survive the Portugal airport strike with minimal turbulence.