Portugal’s peak holiday season is facing major turbulence as airport workers across Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira, Porto Santo, and the Azores embark on rolling strikes that could stretch into early September. Triggered by disputes over pay, unpaid night-shift allowances, and parking charges following Menzies Aviation’s takeover of Groundforce operations, the industrial action has already caused widespread disruption to check-in, baggage handling, and aircraft servicing. Travellers are being urged by Portugal’s airport operator ANA and the UK Foreign Office to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.
The impact has been immediate. In Lisbon alone, more than 70 flights were cancelled during one strike weekend, while another saw 25 departures leave without passenger luggage on board. Further stoppages are scheduled from 15 to 18 August, 22 to 25 August, and 29 August to 1 September, timed to hit some of the busiest travel weekends of the year. These walkouts risk undermining the country’s tourism momentum just as post-pandemic demand returns in full force.
Neighbouring Spain is facing its own prolonged wave of airport unrest. More than 3,000 ground-handling staff, employed by Ryanair contractor Azul Handling, are staging strikes at twelve major airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Seville, and Tenerife South. Set to continue several days a week until December, the action could affect both short-haul leisure flights and long-haul connections, creating a ripple effect across Europe’s travel network.
While EU and UK regulations entitle passengers to compensation in certain cases, airlines and airports may argue that strikes are “extraordinary circumstances,” limiting their liability. As a result, many travellers could be left bearing the brunt of costs for missed connections or rebookings.
The persistence of industrial action across the Iberian Peninsula underscores the fragility of the travel sector’s recovery. With both Portugal and Spain relying heavily on tourism revenues, prolonged disruption risks denting consumer confidence ahead of the lucrative autumn and winter travel seasons. For now, passengers are advised to arrive early, stay flexible, and monitor updates closely—a reminder that in peak season, even the most carefully planned itinerary can be upended.
