Warning issued to anyone flying to holiday hotspot between September and January

Strike action is taking place at airports in a popular holiday destination on multiple occasions between September 2025 and January 2026, affecting to travel to and from a number of airports

A travel expert has issued a warning to anyone travelling to a number of destinations in Portugal between September 3, 2025 and January 2, 2026. Sabrina Escapes detailed the strike action in a TikTok video.

“The strike action could cause disruption at airports, potentially resulting in flight cancellations and delays,” she began. But where is affected? “All of Portugal’s main airports including popular destinations amongst Brits such as Faro, Lisbon, Porto and Madeira,” Sabrina continued. To make matters more difficult, action is set to take place in alternating periods during the four months. Sabrina also cautioned: “It will have an impact on long weekends, bank holidays, Christmas and New Year.”

The first of the strikes commences at midnight on Wednesday, September 3 and lasts until midnight on Tuesday, September 9.

“This will then be followed by subsequent strikes on September 12 to 15, then 19 to 22, and 26 to 28,” she added.

To make matters worse, in October, strikes will run every week from Friday to Monday. “Walkouts are set to follow a similar pattern in November and December,” Sabrina advised.

She closed: “Lastly, over the Christmas period, there will be another strike, which is planned from December 19 to January 2.

According to Portugal.com, the Metallurgical and Related Industries Union (SIMA) has issued demands including the ending of base salaries that fall below the national minimum wage of €870, maintaining worker benefits such as access to parking, ensuring night‑shift pay, and honouring previously signed agreements.

It adds: “The union has called out the fact that paying less than the minimum contradicts even what TAP Air (Portugal’s flag carrier), as a shareholder in Menzies (ground handling company), deemed illegal in a communication to SPDH/Menzies.

“In this latest statement, SIMA also assures that essential services, such as those ensuring safety and equipment maintenance, will continue during the industrial action. The union believes that, because of the advance notice and widespread publicity, keeping only the minimum necessary functions covered will be sufficient.”

It comes after more than 10,000 flight attendants for Air Canada walked out earlier this month after the airlines and union representing the workers failed to reach a deal over pay.

Action saw the airline’s 700 daily flights immediately cancelled including some flights to and from the UK.

Canada’s Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu met with both the airline and union at the time and urged them to work harder to them to reach a deal “once and for all”.

Hajdu said: “It is unacceptable that such little progress has been made. Canadians are counting on both parties to put forward their best efforts.”