Across Europe, airport and airline workers are walking out in protest over low pay and difficult working conditions.
Unions describe employer behavior as “Grinch-like,” especially cruel during the busy Christmas travel period when costs and stress already run high.
For many travelers, strikes have become an almost predictable part of the festive season.
Workers deliberately choose peak travel days to maximize the impact of their protests and increase leverage for better pay and improved conditions.
Some strikes are planned months in advance, while others are announced at the last minute, creating uncertainty for passengers.
Travelers are being urged to check flight and train updates carefully to avoid unexpected cancellations, delays, or extended queues.
With the holiday season approaching, multiple airport and rail strikes are expected to disrupt journeys across Europe.
Passengers whose flights or trains are delayed or canceled may be entitled to rebooking or compensation, and it’s worth reviewing policies before traveling.
Italy Prepares for Major Airport Walkouts
On 17 December, Italy will see a coordinated strike across its airports involving ground handling staff, airline crews, and air traffic controllers.
ENAV staff at Rome Airport, who manage air traffic control, will participate, alongside Assohandlers employees providing ground services for airlines including Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet.
Staff from ITA Airways, Italy’s national carrier, will also take part in the walkout, along with Vueling personnel and ground staff working for Air France and KLM.
The strike is scheduled to last from 1 pm to 5 pm, but disruptions could extend throughout the day.
Passengers may face flight delays, longer check-in lines, and slower baggage handling at major airports in Milan, Rome, Venice, Naples, and Catania.
Italy’s civil aviation authority, ENAC, has published a list of guaranteed flights, but travelers are still advised to monitor updates closely.
UK and Spain Face Holiday Travel Chaos
In the UK, easyJet ground staff at London Luton Airport will strike from 19 to 22 December and again from 26 to 29 December.
These actions may delay check-in and baggage services, affecting thousands of passengers during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year.
London Heathrow Airport also faces potential disruption.
Scandinavian Airlines Services (SAS) cabin crew will strike from 22 to 24 December and again on 26 December.
Flights to the airline’s main hubs, including Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo, are likely to experience cancellations or delays.
Unite union members have highlighted the financial pressures facing staff, with some reportedly forced to rely on food banks while traveling to high-cost destinations.
Callum Rochford, a regional officer for Unite, called SAS’s behavior “Grinch-like,” accusing the airline of exploiting staff goodwill and being responsible for canceled Christmas flights.
Meanwhile, in Spain, Ryanair’s ground handling partner, Azul Handling, continues its regular strike actions, which began in the summer.
Workers protest over pay, job security, and bonuses, with strikes scheduled until 31 December on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
The walkouts occur in early mornings, afternoons, and late evenings, causing long queues and delays at airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma, Alicante, Ibiza, Tenerife South, Seville, and Valencia.
Italy’s Strikes Continue into the New Year
The disruption in Italy will not end with Christmas.
On 9 January, CUB Transporti has called a four-hour nationwide strike from 1 pm to 5 pm, involving ground staff at airports across the country.
Swissport Italia staff at Milan Linate Airport will also stage a 24-hour strike that day, adding to potential travel chaos.
Later in January, flights to and from Verona Airport may be affected when ENAV air traffic control staff walk out on 31 January.
ENAC has published lists of guaranteed flights for affected dates, but travelers are strongly advised to monitor airline updates and plan for delays or cancellations.
The strikes highlight the growing tensions between employees and airlines, and how festive travel periods have become flashpoints for disputes over wages, working conditions, and fairness.
