All of Portugal’s main airports are set to be affected, including popular destinations among Brits such as Faro, Lisbon, Porto and Madeira
UK holidaymakers planning to jet off to Portugal could face airport chaos as ground handling staff threaten strike action from September until the start of 2026.
The Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA) at ground handling company Menzies has issued a strike notice, which covers the period from September 3, 2025 until January 2, 2026, affecting all national airports, according to Portuguese news site Publico.
All of Portugal’s main airports are set to be hit by the industrial action, including popular British tourist hotspots such as Faro, Lisbon, Porto and Madeira.
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The notice reveals that strikes will occur in alternating periods between September 3 and January 2 2026, encompassing busy travel times like long weekends, bank holidays, Christmas and New Year.
Publico reports that the first strike in September will kick off at midnight on September 3, lasting until midnight on September 9. This will be followed by further strikes on: September 12 – 15, 19-22, and 26 -28.
Then in October, strikes are planned from Fridays to Mondays each weekend. Walkouts are set to follow a similar pattern in November and December. Over the festive period, another strike is planned from December 19 until January 2.
The strike action could wreak havoc at airports, potentially leading to flight cancellations and delays, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The union is demanding an end to base salaries below the national minimum wage, payment for night shifts, and access to parking for its workers, amongst other requests. Previous industrial action occurred in July but was suspended for the remainder of the summer.
The union declared that during the strikes “workers will ensure the services necessary for the safety and maintenance of equipment and facilities.”
The news come just after more than 10,000 flight attendants for the major Canadian airline, Air Canada, walked out earlier this month after the airlines and union representing the workers failed to reach a deal. The airlines 700 flights per day were immediately cancelled after the industrial action started – including some flights to and from the UK.
Most recently, Jet2 had to issue a warning to travellers to Greece due to a planned industrial action which “may impact Greek Air Traffic Control”. The industrial action was scheduled to run from 9.30am until 1.30pm local time on August, 28, 2025 and forms part of a broader 24-hour strike organised by public sector union ADEDY.
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers’ Association called on controllers to walk out in support of a 24-hour strike over disciplinary rules set to be introduced for civil employees which are set for a parliamentary vote this week.