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.
Strikes by KLM ground staff in the Netherlands
It’s been announced by trade union FNV that strikes are expected from KLM ground staff at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. The first walkout was on September 24 and the next will be from 6am-2pm on October 1.
More than 100 flights were cancelled due to a short strike in September, thought to have cost the airline €10 million. A spokesperson from KLM reportedly said that the strikes could seriously endanger the company’s future, but a union representative said management had left the ground workers no choice but to strike, according to NL Times.
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.
Following strikes in late September, a general strike is planned for October 2–3, which will affect train services nationwide. From 9pm on October 2 until the same time the next day, there will be no trains from three of Italy’s biggest train operators: Trenitalia, Italo and Trenord. Timetables are expected to be impacted before and after the agreed strike time, too.
The strike was called by trade union SI Cobas in ‘support of the Palestinian resistance’.
On October 10, a 24-hour strike in Rome will impact all public transport across the capital.
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.
Airport strikes in France
France’s main air traffic control union SNCTA is planning to strike from October 7–10 due to ‘mistrust, punitive practices and degrading management methods’. The industrial action is expected to impact any flights in and out of French airports and those travelling through French airspace.
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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