Significant disruptions are expected for travellers transiting through Portuguese airports in the coming weekends. Starting from midnight tomorrow, Saturday, July 26, the first of a series of interruptions affecting air traffic in Portugal will begin, with strikes scheduled until early September.

The workers of SPdH/Menzies, the ground handling services provider for numerous airlines at Portuguese airports, will be on strike. The protest, called by the sector's unions, aims to obtain several salary adjustments and improvements in working conditions. Among the main demands are proper compensation for night shifts and an update of base salaries, which, according to the unions, are currently below the national minimum wage.

Strike schedule and airports involved:

The first strike period will take place from Saturday, July 26 to Monday, July 29. Subsequently, the protests will resume on the following weekends:

- From August 8 to 11

- From August 15 to 18

- From August 22 to 25

- Finally, from August 29 to September 1.

Airports affected:

The greatest impact is expected at Lisbon Airport, which will presumably be the most affected hub. This is due to the fact that about 2,000 of the 3,500 SPdH/Menzies employees operate in the Portuguese capital, making their strike particularly impactful.

The airports of Porto, Faro, and Funchal in the Azores Islands could also experience disruptions, although the overall impact is expected to be more moderate compared to Lisbon. It is essential for travellers to verify the flight status with their respective airlines before heading to the airport, as delays and cancellations may occur across all involved airports.

Portuguese authorities and airport operators, in collaboration with airlines, are closely monitoring the situation to try to mitigate passenger disruptions, although the nature of the strike on essential handling services foresees an inevitable impact on operations. The unions have reiterated their determination to continue the mobilization until satisfactory agreements on their demands are reached.