The airport strike has been called off, but numerous flights were disrupted during the industrial action by Menzies workers (formerly Groundforce). Passengers should be aware that a European Union (EU) law protects all air passengers, provided they have a ticket issued by the airline.
“In August 2024, 37% of passengers departing from Portugal experienced flight disruptions, highlighting how common these issues have become. Although strikes undeniably complicate travel, it’s important for passengers to know that compensation eligibility largely depends on who controls the strike. Strikes held by airline employees directly managed by the carrier typically strengthen passengers’ compensation claims, whereas disruptions caused by third-party service providers can make compensation more complex,” says Pedro Miguel Madaleno, an aviation passenger rights lawyer and AirHelp’s representative in Portugal, in a statement.
He further explains that, “regardless, passengers should carefully document all details and seek expert guidance to ensure their rights are upheld“.
According to AirHelp, these are the air passengers’ rights:
- “When a flight is canceled or a passenger is denied boarding, airlines must provide the option to continue the flight via rerouting. The passenger may choose to refuse this rerouting and request a full refund of the ticket. If the passenger has incurred additional expenses during this process, they can ask the airline for reimbursement.
- Passengers are entitled to compensation of up to 600 euros for delays exceeding three hours upon arrival, unannounced cancellations, and overbooking. This financial compensation can be claimed retroactively up to three years after the flight.
- In the event of strikes or disruptions caused by airline staff, passengers have the right to file their compensation claims.
- Passengers should collect and retain all communications from the airline and all related flight documentation, such as boarding passes and other travel documents, receipts for any items purchased due to the flight delay or cancellation, and note the arrival time at the destination.”
Strike Called Off
The Union of Metallurgical and Related Industries (SIMA) has withdrawn the strike notice to Menzies (formerly Groundforce) after reaching an agreement with the company’s management at the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security. In a letter sent to the company, SIMA states that following the agreement, its members “will not strike”.
“The strike notice in question is rendered void due to the understanding reached between the SIMA Union Commission and the company representatives at the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security with ministry representatives,” the document states.
The cancellation follows strikes conducted from July 25 to 28 and from August 8 to 11, demanding the end of base salaries below the minimum wage, better wages, and compliance with night shift pay, among other grievances.
The strikes scheduled for August 15 to 18, August 22 to 25, and August 29 to September 1 are thus nullified.
