If you’re travelling to Portugal this summer, brace for potential disruption, as ongoing strikes at the country’s busiest airports are expected to last until the end of August.
The industrial action, which began on July 25, is taking place every weekend (from Friday to Monday) and has led to delays and cancellations across Portuguese airports, including Lisbon, Faro, and Porto Santo.
The walkouts, led by SPdH/Menzies ground staff, are due to various issues, including low wages, unpaid night shifts and a lack of staff parking.
It includes staff in baggage handling, aircraft servicing and at check-in desks.
Up to 60 UK flights a week could be affected, disrupting travel plans for over 10,000 passengers.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) updated its travel advice before the strikes.
Sign up to The Getaway newsletter
Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here.
It read: ‘Industrial action by baggage handlers at Portuguese airports from Friday to Monday during July and August may cause delays.
‘If you are travelling over this period, check for announcements and follow the advice of your airline or tour operator.’
The popular holiday islands of Madeira and the Azores will also be affected, as well as mainland airports.
Passengers can expect disruption between:
- August 8-11
- August 15-18,
- August 22-25
- August 29- September 1.
Menzies Aviation said it has contingency plans to minimise disruptions to ground handling services at airports over the strike days, The Portugal News reported. Metro has contacted Menzies Aviation for comment.
Despite the inconvenience, it’s unlikely that travellers will be eligible for compensation as any delays or cancellations caused by strikes are considered an extraordinary circumstance.
In other words, something unexpected and not easily anticipated by the airline, meaning they aren’t legally required to compensate passengers.
The airport strikes come after a chaotic year for tourism across Southern Europe.
Protests against overtourism have swept the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, mainland Spain and Portugal, with locals calling for stricter restrictions on short-term lets, cruise ships and regulations for rising tourist numbers.
In Palma, tens of thousands marched through the streets in July holding banners reading: ‘Your luxury, our misery.’
Across the border from Portugal, Spain is also dealing with a Ryanair baggage handler strike.
The industrial action, which is due to start on August 15, will take place across 12 airports:
- Barcelona
- Lanzarote
- Madrid
- Girona
- Valencia
- Seville
- Alicante
- Ibiza
- Malaga
- Palma de Mallorca
- Tenerife South
- Santiago de Compostela.
What are ‘extraordinary circumstances?’
What the law calls ‘extraordinary circumstances’ can include a fire, bird strikes, defects with a plane, or bad weather.
But none of these entitles impacted passengers to extra compensation, consumer watchdog Which? says. They’re largely considered outside the airline’s control.
In other circumstances, however, it’s a different story. You have several rights under the law if your journey is impacted by staff shortages, airline staff walkouts or if your flight was delayed because bad weather delayed a previous flight.
What you’re entitled to depends on the cause of the cancellation and how much notice the airline gave you.
This can range from £220 for short-haul flights, £350 for mid-haul and £520 for long-haul.
Do you have a story to share?
Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
