Overview 

Portugal airport strikes extended and the Menzies strikes will occur during Christmas and New Year’s Day, as well as on long weekends, from September 3 to January 2, 2026. Menzies (previously Ground Force) has received a new strike warning from the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA), which will affect all national airports and run from September 3 to January 2, 2026. 

Workers at the company that provides ground handling services will go on strike sporadically between September 3 and January 2, 2026, including on long weekends and on busy days like Christmas and New Year’s Day, according to the strike notice. The union’s demands include respect for the previously signed agreement of understanding, payment for night shifts, the elimination of base incomes below the national minimum wage, and the preservation of rights like parking access.

Portugal Airport Strikes Extended and Major Reasons 

According to the union, base pay below the 870 euro national minimum wage is “contrary to what TAP, as a shareholder of the company, considered in a letter sent to SPDH/Menzies, in which it considers this situation to be illegal.”

The Ministry of Labor, SIMA, suspended work stoppages planned for the end of August and held strikes in July and August before issuing this new notice.  Menzies promised that the current strikes’ cancellation “was not the result of any agreement, negotiation, or concession,” stating that its stance “remains unchanged” and that the obligations made until 2029 have not changed.

Portugal Airport Strikes Extended Dates

An official union source claims that these workers make up about 4% of Menzies’ about 3,600 total workforces.  A second strike will occur from September 12 to 15, September 19 to 22, and September 26 to 28. The first strike will occur from midnight on September 3rd to midnight on September 9th.

Strikes are planned on October 3rd–6th, October 10–13th, October 17–20, October 24–27, and October 31–3rd.  Additional strikes are scheduled for November 7–10, November 14–17, November 21–24, November 28–1st, November 5–8th, and November 12–15th.  The last strike will take place between December 19 and January 2, 2026.

Portugal Airport Strikes Extended and Their Impacts 

Portugal Airport Strikes Extended by ground handling staff at Menzies, the industrial action is expected to cause significant disruption to air travel across Portugal. Passengers should anticipate potential flight delays and cancellations at all national airports throughout the strike periods. 

The impact could be particularly severe as the stoppages have been strategically scheduled to coincide with periods of high passenger traffic, including long weekends and the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The industrial action is likely to have an impact on flights that operate between the UK and Portugal.  All of Portugal’s major airports will be affected by the strikes, including the well-liked travel destinations for British tourists, Madeira (FNC), Faro (FAO), Lisbon (LIS), and Porto. 

The striking employees work for Menzies Aviation, which serves numerous top international airlines and has a 65% market share in Portugal for ground and air cargo services.  Several carriers operating routes in the UK will likely have disruptions due to their dominant position.

Portugal Airport Strikes Extended and the Schedule 

With a series of planned walkouts aimed at weekends during the fall and Christmas season, Menzies’ ground handling employees’ strike action is expected to continue after the initial stoppages in September.  The remaining strike dates for the year are as follows:

October 3rd to Monday, October 6th

Friday, October 10–Monday, October 13.

Friday, October 17–Monday, October 20

Friday, October 24, to Monday, October 27;

Friday, October 31, to Monday, November 3.

Friday 7th to Monday 10th November

Friday 14th to Monday 17th November

Friday 21st to Monday 24th November

Friday 28th November to Monday 1st December

December 2025 and January 2026:

Friday 5th to Monday 8th December

Friday 12th to Monday 15th December

Friday 19th December to Friday 2nd January 2026, covering the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Conclusion 

This caution follows earlier summertime interruptions.  Across the nation, strikes from July 25–28 and August 8–11 caused logistical challenges.  Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at Lisbon and other airports during those actions.  Eight flights to Lisbon were canceled during the second wave, while over 70 flights were canceled during the first weekend, according to Euro News.  Extended delays and missing bags plagued some guests.

FAQS