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strike action can cause disruption christmas trip Plans across the UK and across Europe over the festive period.
Industrial action currently scheduled to take place at popular sites spainIn Portugal, Italy and the UK, flight delays are especially expected.
Low wages, poor working conditions and long working hours are some of the reasons cited by workers and unions for strike action.
Passengers should always check operator updates before departure and pack extra snacks, medicines and essentials in case of long delays.
Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for travel, with many travelers visiting family and friends or simply taking time off for a vacation or getaway.
Here’s everything you need to know about who is going on strike where and how it could affect your travel.
London Heathrow Airport, UK
More than 130 cabin crew are working Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS), based at Heathrow, are taking strike action over the holiday period.
Employees are striking over the lack of a fair wage offer as the current offer is below the rate of inflation.
SAS cabin crew will now walk out 22, 23, 24 and 26 December, This means flights to and from Scandinavia may be delayed.
According to the union Unite, airline cabin crew have reported using food banks when landing in Scandinavia because they cannot afford a meal before flying to the UK.
Unite regional officer Callum Rochford said: “This is real Grinch-style behavior from SAS – it is taking advantage of the goodwill of its staff and will now be held responsible for canceled Christmas flights.
“It’s a good job Santa has a flying sleigh because he won’t be going anywhere with Scandinavia Airlines on Christmas Eve.”
London Luton Airport, UK
Approximately 200 easyJet check-in and baggage handling staff London Luton Airport Preparing to go out for six days in salary related dispute.
Industrial action is about to begin From 3 am on December 19 to 3 am on December 22, then in the middle 26 and 29 December.
EasyJet said it would “work closely” with partners to “minimize any disruption”.
Italy
Italy It holds the title for the highest number of strikes taking place across Europe this Christmas, with a number of actions taking place throughout the month.
10-11 December: Now the maritime and administrative workers are on strike in the ferry companies Tirrenia CIN and Mobi.
The action started at 3pm on December 9 and is scheduled to end at 3pm on December 11.
Services connecting the Italian mainland to Sardinia, sicily And smaller islands may face cancellations or schedule changes during this period.
12th December: Nationwide general strike has been called by CGIL.
Rail services (long distance and regional), port services and logistics companies are warning of reduced services, while major cities, e.g. Rome and Milan, expecting slow public transport and marches in central areas.
Although airports may be less affected, travelers should leave extra time for travel to and from aviation hubs during this period.
17 December: ITA Airways will go on a four-hour strike on Wednesday 17 December between 1pm and 5pm.
Industrial action by staff working for the Italian flag-carrier could result in disruption to flights arriving or departing from airports across the country.
ITA passengers should check the airline’s website and app for regular, real-time updates.
portugal
portugal Is preparing for its first national general strike in 12 years.
Nearly half of the country’s workforce is expected to move out 11th DecemberWhich caused massive disruptions and delays in all forms of transport including flights, rail and buses.
Ricardo Peñaroias, president of the SNPVAC cabin crew union, warned that it would be very difficult to operate flights during the strike.
Workers are striking over the government’s planned labor law reforms, which will weaken workers’ rights.
spain
airport baggage handlers spain Industrial action is set to take place throughout December, affecting a number of major aviation hubs across the country.
For the rest of 2025, workers will strike every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 5am and 9am.
Affected airports include Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Tenerife South and Valencia.
What happens if your flight plans are affected by strike action?
Under UK law, if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late, airlines are required to pay compensation – provided it is the airline’s fault.
However, disruptions caused by strikes, extreme weather or other “exceptional circumstances” are often not eligible for compensation.
Learn more about compensation for canceled or delayed flights Simon Calder’s guide to traveler rights,