Ground Crews Plan Autumn-Winter Walkouts at Portugal’s Busiest Airports

Lisbon’s ground-handling crews have drawn a line in the sand: from early September until just after the New Year, intermittent walkouts threaten to turn Portugal’s airports into a game of musical chairs. For foreign residents and visitors, the dispute is more than a labor skirmish—it could mean missed connections, nights on airport floors and hard choices about holiday plans. Below is what you need to know to navigate the turbulence.

What’s fueling the confrontation

A pay packet that still sits below Portugal’s €870 minimum wage, unpaid night-shift premiums, and the loss of a staff car-park privilege have pushed workers at SPdH/Menzies—once called Groundforce—into a prolonged greve. Union leaders from SIMA and the smaller Sindicato dos Transportes say the company, partly owned by TAP Air Portugal, “has dragged its feet for years” on a memorandum guaranteeing better terms. Menzies Aviation counters that it already operates “within every legal parameter” and that earlier strike cancellations in July and August “did not stem from concessions.” With neither side blinking, the stoppages will resume at 00:00 on 3 September and pop up on long weekends through 2 January, targeting the high-traffic periods expats rely on for autumn getaways and family reunions.

How the walkouts could disrupt your travel plans

Handling agents are the people who load suitcases, guide aircraft and connect ground power. When they stop, planes may still land, but baggage piles up, fueling cascading delays. In July’s dry-run strike, Lisbon saw 40 cancellations in a single day and several departures left sem bagagem, forcing airlines to courier luggage days later. This time the union has chosen dates that coincide with extended weekends, school breaks, Christmas and New Year, so ripple effects will likely stretch far beyond the announced 24- and 72-hour windows. The National Civil Aviation Authority can impose minimum-service decrees, yet those only cover safety-critical flights. Regular commercial services—especially leisure routes—face a real risk of being scratched or rescheduled at short notice.

Where the pain will be felt first

Menzies dominates ramp operations at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, employing roughly 2 000 of its 3 500 Portuguese staff there alone. The union warns that the capital will “bear the brunt,” followed by Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores archipelago. International carriers that outsource fully to Menzies—think British Airways, Lufthansa, easyJet or long-haul specialists like Air Canada—sit at the front of the vulnerability queue. TAP has its own in-house teams for some tasks, but any flight requiring mixed ground services may still stall when a single link in the chain is missing.

Contingency promises versus on-the-ground reality

Menzies insists it has activated “robust contingency plans,” including redeploying managers in high-visibility vests and drafting staff from less busy bases. ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal says it will “coordinate closely” with all stakeholders and point passengers to alternative counters where possible. Past experience suggests such plans soften—but do not erase—the disruption. Crew fatigue limits the hours supervisors can legally work, and EU regulations bar airlines from using non-certified temps on the ramp. If you land during a strike period, expect longer walks to remote stands and the possibility that your bag boards a later flight.

Survival guide for autumn-winter flying

First, build in extra buffer time: arriving four hours early for intercontinental departures and three for intra-European legs is prudent. Second, pack a small cabin bag with medication, chargers, a change of clothes and proof of residency; checked luggage might lag behind. Third, download your carrier’s app and enable push alerts so you catch gate swaps or rebook offers instantly. If you hold a residence permit and plan to renew abroad, carry photocopies—SEF will not take a strike as an excuse for overstaying. Finally, consider rail or coach alternatives on domestic hops such as Lisbon-Porto or Lisbon-Faro; Portugal’s high-speed Alfa Pendular trains can be faster than a disrupted flight once security lines, wait times and potential rerouting are factored in.

Wider stakes for tourism and the expat economy

The walkouts land at a delicate moment. Portugal expects a record 33 M passengers through Lisbon alone this year and relies on Christmas-season visitors to keep tourism contributing nearly 15 % of GDP. Should cancellations drag on, hotel occupancy could dip and seasonal workers—from surf-school instructors in Algarve to language tutors in Porto—may feel the pinch. For foreign freelancers whose residence depends on demonstrating Portuguese income, fewer tourist euros can quietly affect invoices. Yet some observers argue the strike underscores challenges familiar to many newcomers: balancing Portugal’s comparatively low wages with soaring living costs around the main cities. A negotiated settlement would not only restore airport normality but also signal that the country can still resolve labour unrest without derailing its hard-won reputation as Europe’s calm corner.

Until then, keep your boarding passes handy—and your patience, too. The season of suitcase roulette is about to begin.