In a statement, the aviation and airport workers’ union emphasized that during the meeting held on October 22, it informed the Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing (MIH) that another extension for ground handling services was “not in the interest of the workers,” as it would “merely prolong anxiety, instability, and insecurity.”
SITAVA further indicated that they left the meeting with the expectation that the Government would not extend the deadline beyond November 19.
“Regrettably, the extension of licenses was published today in the Official Gazette for an additional six months, even allowing for another extension beyond May 19, 2026,” the union criticized, indicating that workers “will not tolerate being ‘kept in suspense’ for six months without any assurance about their future.”
SITAVA noted that SPdH/Menzies workers “will find immediate ways to fight to safeguard their jobs, their rights enshrined in the Company Agreement, and the commitments made by SPdH/Menzies for 2026,” asserting that “as of today, only SPdH’s continuity ensures this.”
The reaction comes after the Government determined, through a decree published today, the extension of licenses currently granted to Menzies until May 19, 2026, justifying the decision with the need to ensure service continuity while the tender launched by the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) is ongoing.
According to the Minister of Infrastructure and Housing, Miguel Pinto Luz, the “complexity” of the process — a public tender limited by prior qualification and composed of three phases (submission of applications and qualification of candidates, submission of proposals, and subsequently the issuance of licenses) — impeded the completion of proposal analysis within the original deadline.
The ministry also acknowledged in the same document that “reservations” were made regarding the preliminary jury report, which is now being reassessed.
In the preliminary report released by ANAC, the Clece/South group, within Iberia’s sphere, ranks first with 95.2523 points, while Menzies — the current service provider — scores 93.0526. The company has already expressed disappointment with the results and contested the rating, arguing that it presented a proposal of “operational excellence” and highlighting that it employs more than 3,500 workers.
The Government anticipates that the tender’s conclusion will only occur after the new validity period of the now-extended licenses, followed by a transition period for document submission and requirements verification.
