Europe: European air travel is experiencing substantial disruption in 2025 as a series of labor strikes and industrial actions across multiple countries continue to impact airport operations, flight schedules, and passenger travel plans.
A wave of coordinated industrial actions in December 2025 has intensified disruptions at major European airports. Unions in the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Spain and beyond have announced strikes affecting ground staff, airline personnel, and air traffic controllers during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. The actions have raised concerns about connectivity and service reliability during the peak holiday travel season.
European airports are facing widespread disruption because workers are protesting over unresolved disputes involving pay, staffing shortages and working conditions. Unions say wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living, while persistent understaffing has increased workloads and stress for ground handlers, baggage teams and aircrew.
In Portugal, a nationwide general strike threatened to paralyse key transport networks and airport operations on December 11, forcing airlines to adjust schedules and cancel flights. Etihad Airways confirmed the cancellation of its Abu Dhabi–Lisbon services (EY099 and EY100) due to the strike, underscoring the ripple effects on international carriers.
Workers across Italy are scheduled to participate in a nationwide general strike on December 12, a move expected to hit ground transportation services. While airport operations may remain largely functional, commuting to and from major airports could be severely affected. Travellers have been advised to secure alternate transport options in advance to avoid delays.
A second major disruption is expected on December 17, when ITA Airways’ ground crew and air crew will stage a four-hour strike from 1 pm to 5 pm. The walkout is expected to trigger delays and cancellations at Italy’s busiest airports as airline operations slow significantly during the stoppage.
In Spain, labour unrest has stretched into its fourth month as baggage-handling company Azul Handling, part of the Ryanair Group, continues its strike campaign. Workers have been walking out every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday since August, with actions spread across three time windows daily:
- 5 am to 9 am
- 12 pm to 3 pm
- 9 pm to 11:59 pm
These recurring stoppages have affected major airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Valencia, Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Girona, Seville and Santiago de Compostela, with passengers reporting delays in baggage delivery, ground services and turnaround times.
The UK will see renewed disruption at London Luton Airport, where ground-handling staff employed by DHL are set to stage a multi-day walkout. According to a BBC report, workers will strike from 3 am on December 19 to 3 am on December 22, and again from 3 am on December 26 to 3 am on December 29.
The action is expected to impact airlines relying on DHL for ramp operations and ground services, potentially slowing baggage handling and delaying departures during two of the busiest travel periods of the season.
The combination of strikes across multiple countries creates a domino effect affecting Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, Air France, and other major carriers. Over 4,000+ flight disruptions have occurred throughout 2025 due to labor actions. These December strikes hit during peak holiday booking periods when travelers urgently need transportation.
Travellers flying to, from or through Italy, Spain and the UK this month are urged to monitor their flight status closely before leaving for the airport, as strikes may trigger last-minute delays or cancellations.
They should also allow extra time for airport procedures and transport to terminals, especially in cities where public transit may be affected. Reviewing travel insurance coverage for delay- or cancellation-related compensation is strongly advised. With multiple industrial actions scheduled through December, further operational disruptions remain likely, and passengers are encouraged to stay alert to airline and airport advisories.
