It’s a tough time to be working in the aviation industry. Faced with staff shortages and huge levels of disruption, many workers at airlines and airports are facing long, stressful hours and poor working conditions. And, thanks to the cost of living crisis, loads of them are doing it all for lower wages, too.
Needless to say, it’s no wonder that so many staff at airports and airlines have been going on strike. From Italy and Belgium to Greece and France, airports across Europe have seen thousands of flights delayed and cancelled by industrial action.
Strikes can, of course, have a serious impact on your holiday, so it’s best to be as informed about them as possible. Read on for our guide to who’s going on strike in Europe right now, where and when those strikes will happen – and whether you need to worry about them.
Airport strikes in Belgium
A Belgian national strike is scheduled for Tuesday October 14, causing huge disruption to public services in the country. Workers across the board will down tools in protest of new labour laws which alter pensions and salaries.
Brussels airport has announced that no flights will depart from its runway on Tuesday, and that several arriving flights could also be cancelled. The hub has cautioned that October 15 will also be a very busy day, and urged passengers to ‘be sure to come to the airport on time’.
Brussels Charleroi, a smaller airport popular with budget airlines, has cancelled all inbound and outbound flights for Tuesday, explaining that: ‘Passengers affected scheduled to fly via Charleroi on October 14 will be contacted in the coming days by their airline for a rebooking or refund’.
Transport strikes in Italy
To protect holiday travel, strikes in Italy are banned from late July to early September – but now that window has passed, unions have announced plans for industrial action that will affect air travel in September and October. Luckily, most have now passed, but there are two remaining days of walkouts scheduled for October.
Airport staff at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport are expected to strike for four hours on October 13 from midday to 4pm, which could lead to disruption for air travellers passing through Rome.
On October 29, a 24-hour strike organised by several unions could impact those travelling through Milan Linate, Florence and Pisa airports.
Nationwide strike in Greece
Greek workers across various industries, including public transport, have planned the latest in a series of 24-hour national strikes for October 14. On this day, train, ferry, and metro drivers in Athens will all walk out in protest of a new law the government has introduced which would make a 13 hour work day legal.
Metro lines 1, 2, and 3 will run a reduced service between 9am and 5pm, along with tram lines. Union bosses say that this is to allow people to attend a rally in Syntagma Square around midday. If you are flying into Athens, this could complicate your onward travel, so make sure to make plans ahead of time.
Bus and trolley workers haven’t yet announced whether they will take part in this strike.
Spain baggage handling strikes
Airports across Spain are set to be affected by strikes over labour rights by Azul Handling baggage staff. It’s part of the Ryanair Group and handles the bags for the majority of the operators’ flights. The affected times are as follows: from 5am-9am, on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the rest of 2025.
The affected airports, according to Which?, are: Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Malaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife South and Valencia.
What happens if your airline goes on strike?
If strikes cause your flight to be delayed or cancelled, the airline is usually obliged to help you and/or provide compensation. However, this often depends on the conditions of your airline – some airlines won’t cover strikes out of their control, such as airport or baggage handler strikes. Your compensation also depends on the extent of your travel insurance. These should both be easily accessed on either your airline or insurer’s website.
If you book your flight already knowing that a strike is set to take place (ie. it’s already been announced by the union), you are exceptionally unlikely to receive compensation. Before you book, be sure to check for any strike dates not just at your intended airline but also at departure and arrival airports.
Of course, it’s worth bearing in mind that the threat of a strike is exactly that: a threat. Strikes are primarily used as bargaining chips in negotiations between unions and employers, so there’s always the chance that both sides will come to an agreement before one actually takes place.
In any case, if your journey involves any of the above airlines, destinations and dates, be sure to keep an eye on your flight status and prepare for a more disrupted journey than expected.
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