Minimum Services Decreed During Portugal Airport Workers Strike, Ensuring its Essential Flight Operations and Minimizing New Travel Disruption

Published on December 28, 2025

A strike by SPdH/Menzies workers (formerly Groundforce), which was planned for December 31, 2025, and then again on January 1, 2026, got the arbitration tribunal in Portugal to order the provision of minimum services at airports across the country. Another strike, which took place as a result of a combination of situations by ground handling employees due to the ground handling licensing tender process, was organized by Sitava, or the Aviation and Airport Workers’Union, and by STHAA, or Handling, Aviation, and Airport Workers Union.

So, the arbitration award ensures that the most essential operations will continue, which would affect the safety of the general public and aviation safety. The minimum servicio covers various fields that would affect aviation services during the period of the strike action.

Key Minimum Services During the Strike

According to the arbitration ruling, ground handling assistance must be guaranteed for the following operations:

• State, military, emergency, humanitarian, and rescue flights
• Essential air connections to autonomous regions, with at least one flight per region
• Operations deemed essential for safety of people, aircraft, and facilities
• Other essential operations, as defined under applicable labor legislation

These services are set to ensure that the most critical flights and safety operations are not disrupted, despite the industrial action taken by the workers. While the strike is set to cause some disruption, these services will allow the continuation of necessary flights and services.

Background of the Strike and Worker Concerns

The strike is primarily being driven by concerns among the 3,700 workers of SPdH over their job security and rights in light of the tender process for ground handling licenses. According to the preliminary report from the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC), the Clece/South consortium has been placed in first place in the tender process, creating uncertainty for the ground handling workers.

The unions involved are demanding written guarantees regarding job security and acquired rights for those directly affected by the tender process, which includes approximately 2,070 workers. With the uncertainty surrounding the future of the workforce, the unions have decided to take action in order to secure employment rights for SPdH workers.

Government’s Response and Extended Licenses

In response to the ongoing issues related to the tender process, the Portuguese government has extended the current ground handling licenses until at least May 19, 2026. This decision aims to provide temporary relief and stability for the workforce, allowing for a clearer resolution of the tender process and providing time to address workers’ concerns.

The extension of the licenses aims to ensure that airport operations continue smoothly while providing some security for employees in the face of uncertainty.

Future Travel Impact: Safeguarding Tourism and Aviation Operations

The future impact of this strike on Portugal’s tourism and aviation sector could be far-reaching, especially during the peak holiday travel season. However, the minimum services ruling is designed to ensure that essential flights and operations continue smoothly, minimizing disruption to tourism and air travel in the short term.

The travel impact of this event will be closely monitored, as it could influence how future industrial actions are handled in Portugal’s aviation sector. The government’s swift action to maintain crucial services will ensure that international visitors continue to travel to Portugal, despite the disruptions caused by the strike. It also reinforces the importance of keeping air travel operations running smoothly, especially for high-demand tourism destinations in Portugal, such as Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve.

Looking ahead, it is expected that future tourism growth will rely on the ability of Portugal’s aviation infrastructure to handle increasing passenger volumes in a stable and efficient manner. Sustainable labor agreements, better workforce planning, and improved infrastructure will play a key role in ensuring that aviation strikes do not disrupt the growing demand for tourism services.

Future Strategies for Tourism and Aviation Resilience

The ongoing situation underscores the need for long-term strategies to strengthen Portugal’s tourism infrastructure and ensure the country’s resilience in the face of future disruptions. This includes improving labor relations within the aviation sector, investing in aviation infrastructure, and developing strategic partnerships to safeguard tourism growth.

The government’s response to this strike—by ensuring minimum services and facilitating a smoother travel experience for both domestic and international travelers—is an important part of preserving tourism momentum and sustaining economic growth in the sector. With more international visitors expected in the coming years, maintaining aviation stability will be essential for Portugal’s tourism future.

Future Resilience for Portugal’s Tourism and Aviation Industry

The minimum services decree introduced during the strike will go a long way in alleviating the situation presented to the tourism sector of Portugal. As far as the future is concerned, the tourism sector of Portugal will have to adjust to the rising demand for aviation travel. The rising number of tourism globally and the rising popularity of Portugal as a tourist destination, there is a great need for sustainability in the aviation sector in Portugal to be able to meet the demands of both the tourist sector and aviation personnel.