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.
General strike in Italy
Workers across Italy are gearing up for a general strike on December 12. Although airport staff may be less affected, transport to and from the airport could be delayed or cancelled, so it might be worth making alternative arrangements or booking a taxi ahead of time.
Additionally, ITA Airways will hold a four-hour walkout on December 17 between 1pm and 5pm, which will see ground and air crews down tools. This could cause disruption to flights arriving or departing from major Italian airports. You can keep up to date with your flight on your airline's website or app.
Airport strikes in Portugal
A national general strike is expected to take out about half of the Portuguese workforce on December 11, which will cause serious disruption to all forms of transport, including aviation. The president of the union for cabin crew told Euronews that it will be ‘very difficult to operate flights’ under these circumstances.
The walkout has been called in protest of new labour reform laws, which would, among other things, allow staff to be fired more easily and weaken unions.
London Luton baggage strikes
Around 200 easyJet staff members at London’s Luton Airport will down tools this December during some of the busiest travel days of the year. The walkout will be a total of four days long, running from 3am on December 19 until 3am on December 22, then again between December 26 and 29.
The staff, who are employed by DHL on behalf of easyJet, are striking because they say they are paid less than their peers who do the same jobs at other airports like Gatwick.
Unite Union’s regional officer Jeff Hodge said that ‘the dispute is entirely the fault of DHL who can well afford to pay these workers a wage they can live on but are choosing not to’. DHL has said that it has offered a pay rise, which the union rejected, and that ‘robust contingency plans are in place to minimise any potential disruption should the action go ahead’.
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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Plus: how to track down lost baggage and get compensation.
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