Disruptions at airports to potentially affect Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air operations
Headline: Summer Travel Chaos: Multiple Strikes Affecting Major Airports in Spain, Portugal, and Italy
Travelers planning to visit Spain, Portugal, and Italy in August 2025 should brace themselves for multiple strikes affecting ground handling and airport staff at major airports. These disruptions may impact flights operated by airlines such as EasyJet, Ryanair, British Airways, Wizz Air, Tui, Volotea, and ITA Airways.
Key Preparation Steps
- Stay Informed About Strike Dates and Airports Affected
- In Portugal, ground handling staff strikes are planned over five weekends starting from July 25, 2025, and continuing throughout August at all major airports including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal, and Porto Santo.
- In Spain, strikes by ground handling union Azul Handling, which affects Ryanair and potentially other carriers, are scheduled for August 15-17 with three daily time slots and will continue on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays until December 31, 2025. This impacts major airports such as Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, and others.
- Italy is also experiencing staff strikes during summer 2025, but specific details per airline/airport are less clear.
- Anticipate Possible Flight Delays and Cancellations Europe is witnessing increased flight delays and cancellations due to strikes, compounded by staffing shortages, air traffic control constraints, and other disruptions this summer. Passengers should expect the possibility of last-minute flight changes.
- Check Flight Status Often and Communicate with Airlines Regularly check your airline’s official website or app for real-time flight updates. Contact your airline proactively to understand your options if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
- Know Your Passenger Rights Under EU regulations, passengers have rights to compensation, assistance, or rebooking in case of cancellations or significant delays caused by strikes. Familiarize yourself with these rights and keep receipts of extra expenses.
- Allow Extra Time and Consider Alternative Plans Arrive at the airport earlier than usual to accommodate potential slowdowns. If possible, consider flexible travel plans or alternative airports/routes to reduce the risk of being stranded.
Background Information
The strikes are part of a larger labor dispute involving airport workers seeking better working conditions and improved safety measures. Our publication will provide up-to-date information about the strikes in Spain and Portugal once the dates are announced.
It's worth noting that flights to specific islands, such as Sardinia, Sicily, and Lampedusa, do not usually participate in strikes. However, travelers are advised to check their flight's status before heading to the airport.
These strikes could cause significant travel disruptions for tourists planning to travel to or from Spain, Portugal, and Italy over the specified weekends in August. The strikes by workers at SPdH/Menzies, formerly Groundforce, began on the 26th and ended on the 29th at midnight, but they will resume during the mentioned weekends in August.
Stay informed, stay flexible, and have a safe journey!
Despite the summer travel chaos in Europe due to strikes, you can still prepare effectively. Understand possible flight disruptions in specific general-news events like the strikes in Spain, Portugal, and Italy, particularly at airports such as Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Funchal, Porto Santo, Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, and Italy. Keep abreast of strike dates, consider alternative travel plans, and regularly check your flights' status to avoid travel lifestyle obstacles related to crime-and-justice issues like labor disputes.
