Aberdeen, Italy, and Portugal strike action threatens summer flights across Europe

Disruption overview

A wave of strike action at Aberdeen Airport, major Italian hubs, and across Portugal is set to collide with Europe's busiest summer travel weeks, increasing the risk of longer queues, delays, and short-notice cancellations. In the United Kingdom, Aberdeen security officers have planned 14 strike days through late July and the first half of August, while Italy faces a 24-hour national strike affecting airport ground and terminal staff, including operations at Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport. Recent disruption at Brussels Airport and Larnaca Airport shows how quickly local walkouts can affect the wider network. Because this kind of strike action is usually outside an airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, but airlines should still provide rebooking, refunds, and care if your trip is disrupted.

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Disruption details

Passengers flying through Aberdeen Airport in the United Kingdom, Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy, and other major European gateways this summer could face longer lines, delays, and short-notice cancellations as strike action builds during the busiest holiday weeks. In Aberdeen, security officers have announced 14 strike days through late July and the first half of August after pay talks collapsed.

For passengers, that means extra uncertainty before you even reach the gate. Airports and airlines are already warning that departures may be retimed, combined, or changed at short notice to keep operations moving.

The main disruption points currently in focus are:

• At Aberdeen Airport, management expects longer security lines during the rolling walkouts and says airlines may retime or consolidate departures.

• In Italy, transport unions have called a 24-hour national strike that includes airport ground and terminal staff, with Milan Malpensa Airport and Rome Fiumicino Airport among the hubs preparing for disruption.

• In Portugal, unions have scheduled another nationwide stoppage that could put hundreds of flights at risk.

Carriers serving Italy have already told travelers to keep checking flight status and prepare for schedule changes. That matters even if your own airport looks calm, because disruption at one busy hub can quickly spread across the wider European network in peak season.

Recent walkouts show how fast that can happen. Earlier this summer, a spontaneous one-day strike by ground-handling staff at Brussels Airport delayed or disrupted dozens of flights before operations returned to normal the next day.

In Cyprus, a nationwide labor stoppage on 9 July led to hours-long queues at Larnaca Airport and forced at least 20 flight reschedulings in a single afternoon. For people connecting onward or traveling with family, even a short stoppage can unravel the rest of the day.

The pressure isn't limited to Europe. Union demonstrations at Western Sydney Airport, last year's Air Canada flight-attendant strike that reshuffled schedules at Vancouver International Airport and Calgary International Airport, and a recent walkout by concession workers at T. F. Green Airport in Rhode Island all point to the same problem: air travel demand has recovered faster than staffing levels in many parts of the industry.

Across countries, unions are pointing to inflation, cost-of-living pressure, and staffing gaps left since the pandemic. Employers say they are dealing with high fuel prices, financing costs, and regulatory pressure, and warn that steep wage rises could make it harder to keep fares competitive.

Authorities are also trying to limit the effect on travelers. In Italy, the civil aviation authority publishes lists of flights that must still operate during strike days. In the UK, the Civil Aviation Authority has refreshed its summer guidance to remind airlines that they still need to reroute or refund passengers when disruption becomes significant.

If you're traveling during these strike periods, it makes sense to check for schedule changes before you leave, allow more time where security staff are walking out, and stay alert for preemptive cancellations that may be issued to protect the rest of the schedule. If you have a connection, it's also worth understanding what support your airline and travel insurance can offer if delays start to spread.

Because these walkouts mainly involve airport, security, or ground staff rather than an airline's own employees, compensation under EC 261 is usually unlikely. Although compensation is unlikely in this kind of dispute, that doesn't mean you're without support. Airlines should still offer rerouting or a refund if your flight is canceled, plus care and assistance such as food, refreshments, accommodation when needed, and basic communication support during longer delays. If you want to understand what may apply to your journey, you can check your flight with AirHelp's free flight checker.

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