Lisbon, Aug. 11, 2025 - The second four-day strike by workers at the ground handling company Menzies at Lisbon airport ends on Monday, with the infrastructure recording fewer cancellations than during the first period of the strike.
According to data consulted by Lusa over the weekend, the number of cancellations, including arrivals and departures, ranged from 18 on Friday to six on Sunday, with a source from the Metal and Allied Industries Union (SIMA) estimating slightly higher figures.
The same source pointed to “significant delays” in operations and criticised the company for not allowing “a fair strike”.
On its website, Portugal's airports managing company ANA published a notice alerting passengers that, due to the company strike, which "affects several airlines, such as TAP, there may be constraints in airport operations during the following periods: 25 to 28 July; 8 to 11 August; 15 to 18 August; 22 to 25 August and 29 August to 1 September", urging them to contact "the airline or travel agent before going to the airport".
Menzies workers began their second four-day strike on Friday, out of a total of five strikes scheduled for the summer, the high tourist season, with the company and the union exchanging accusations of unwillingness to engage in dialogue.
The strikes were called by the Metal and Allied Industries Union (SIMA) and the Transport Union (ST) for an end to base salaries below the national minimum, better wages, compliance with night shift pay, among other demands, with this second period, which began at midnight on Friday, ending at midnight today.
A new strike is scheduled for next weekend, along similar lines.
Menzies Aviation announced on 1 August that it had activated contingency plans to mitigate disruptions to ground handling services at airports and assured that it was acting in accordance with the law and with “full respect for workers’ rights”.
"Robust contingency plans have been activated to protect operations and mitigate disruptions to services, particularly during this demanding summer period, always with full respect for workers' rights," said a spokesperson for British company Menzies Aviation, which owns 50.1% of the former Groundforce (the remaining 49.9% remained with TAP), in statements sent to the media.
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Lusa
