Heads up if you’re flying to or from Portugal!
Air travel in Portugal could see some turbulence, not in the air but on the ground. Ground handling staff at Menzies have announced strikes running all the way into the new year.
Ground Handling Staff Walk Out
Ground handling staff at Menzies, represented by two unions, SIMA and STA, have announced a series of strikes that stretch from mid-September into the new year. Ground handling covers check-in, baggage and aircraft turnaround, so the effect shows up as delays and cancellations rather than closed airports.
September Through to January
September 2025: 12 to 15, 19 to 22, and 26 to 28.
October 2025: 3 to 6, 10 to 13, 17 to 20, 24 to 27, and 31 October to 3 November.
November 2025: 7 to 10, 14 to 17, and 21 to 24.
December 2025 into January 2026: 5 to 8, 12 to 15, and 19 December straight through to 2 January.
Check Before You Travel
If you are flying in or out of Portugal on any of those dates, build in some slack and expect the possibility of delays or cancellations. Check your airline’s updates before you leave for the airport rather than when you get there, and keep hand luggage light enough to carry if the baggage system slows down.
The flights are still going. It is the ground that is the problem.
