Portugal Ground Handling Strikes, Intermittent Delays

Published on Nov 10, 2025, 11:36 am CST

4 min read

Key points

Handling unions scheduled multiple strike windows through January 2, 2026
Minimum service rulings keep essential flights moving but slow bags and turnarounds
Expect intermittent delays at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, and Azores airports
Upcoming windows include November 14-17, 21-24, 28-December 1, and December 5-8, 12-15, 19-January 2

Impact

What To Expect: Slower check-in, baggage delays, and occasional flight retimes on affected days
Where: Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO), Faro Gago Coutinho (FAO), Madeira, and Azores airports
When: Intermittent periods through January 2, 2026 including peak holiday windows
Who Is Affected: Travelers on airlines using SPdH or Menzies for ground services
How To Mitigate: Travel light, avoid tight connections, verify handling status and waivers with your airline on the day of travel

Portugal's airport ground handling dispute has moved into a long series of intermittent strike periods that run through January 2, 2026. Notices filed by unions representing SPdH and Menzies Aviation are structured around long weekends and the holiday peak, which means travelers may see slower check-in, baggage delays, and longer turnarounds on the specific days covered. Regulators have ordered minimum services during these stoppages, so the pattern is friction rather than a full shutdown. Plan conservative buffers and confirm your airline's day-of handling status.

Scope and airports

The current strike framework covers all national airports, including Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon, Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO) in Porto, Faro Gago Coutinho (FAO) in Faro, island gateways in Madeira such as Cristiano Ronaldo International (FNC), and stations across the Azores. Many carriers at these fields contract SPdH or Menzies for passenger, ramp, and baggage services, so any slowdown can ripple into queues at counters, late bags on belts, and longer aircraft turnarounds, even when flights still operate under mandated minimums. Authorities and local media have noted cancellations in earlier windows, along with visible baggage backlogs at Lisboa during peak hours.

Upcoming dates

Following July and August stoppages and a renewed pre-notice in late August, the arbitral tribunal set minimum service requirements and published a calendar anchor that unions and airports have referenced since. For November and December, the scheduled periods include November 14 to 17, November 21 to 24, November 28 to December 1, December 5 to 8, and December 12 to 15, then a continuous holiday window from December 19 to January 2. Individual handlers or stations may add local actions or modify staffing plans, and some windows were temporarily suspended or narrowed after minimum service rulings, which is why travelers should treat the calendar as a framework and verify day-of operations with their airline.

Minimum services and what that means

The tribunal required full protection for flights between mainland Portugal and the islands and defined a portion of international flights that must be handled during strike periods. In practice, this keeps essential connectivity in the schedule while allowing congestion to build in check-in halls, on baggage belts, and around the ramp when crews run below normal staffing. Airlines and handlers have layered contingency plans on top of the ruling, for example earlier report times for crews, retimed departures, and priority lanes for critical connections. Expect normal security screening and air traffic services, while the pinch points sit with the private ground handling workforce.

Airline mitigation and traveler choices

Most airlines using SPdH or Menzies have leaned on retimes, consolidations, and interline reaccommodation where available. Some issued day-specific change fee waivers during earlier periods and may do so again for holiday windows. If you are booked through Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, or the Azores inside any listed period, build a longer check-in window, pack medications and a change of clothes in carry-on, and avoid tight connections or same-day rail transfers. When possible, select first flights of the day and nonstop routings that reduce exposure to baggage handoffs. If you must connect, schedule longer buffers and avoid the last bank of the evening.

Background

Ground handling covers passenger check-in, boarding, baggage, ramp, and aircraft turnaround services, which are performed by companies like SPdH and Menzies on contract to airlines. When these workers strike, airports remain open, air traffic control continues, and airlines can still operate flights that receive minimum service protection. The operational risk shifts to slower processes, occasional cancellations, and bags arriving late to or from the belt.

Final thoughts

Portugal ground handling strikes are set up as intermittent friction through January 2, 2026, not an airport closure. The workable strategy is to travel light, pick conservative connections, and confirm handling status with your airline before you head to the airport.