Published on
December 10, 2025
UK, Italy and Portugal Strikes to disrupt millions of travellers across Europe, ground airlines, halt rail networks, and impact holiday travel in December 2025, hitting major hubs including London Luton Airport, Lisbon Airport, Malpensa, Linate, Fiumicino, and the Greater Manchester transit network. Multiple nationwide strikes, airport walkouts, and public-transport shutdowns are unfolding across Portugal, Italy, and the UK, creating one of the most disruption-heavy travel periods in Europe in recent years. More than 400 EasyJet flights at London Luton are at risk across two strike periods, while Portugal’s 11 December general strike may ground most national and international services. Italy faces two major actions on 12 and 17 December, disrupting rail networks, ENAV operations, and airline crews for Vueling, easyJet, Air France, and KLM. In the UK, 320 Metrolink tram drivers and 200 Bee bus network staff will walk out during peak holiday travel days, affecting major events across Manchester.
Updated today: December 2025 travel faces severe disruption across Portugal, Italy, and the UK due to multiple airline, airport and public-transport strikes.Portugal’s 11 December general strike may ground most flights, with TAP operating only limited legally required services.Italy’s 12 December nationwide strike will heavily affect regional, suburban, long-distance, and airport rail services, with minimal guaranteed operations.Italy’s 17 December aviation strike hits ENAV, airline crews from Vueling, easyJet, Air France, KLM, plus handling staff across multiple airports.London Luton Airport faces major disruption as 200 DHL ground staff strike 19–22 and 26–29 December, affecting over 400 EasyJet flights.Greater Manchester will see tram and bus shutdowns as 320 Metrolink drivers and 200 Bee bus network staff strike 19, 20, and 31 December.Flight cancellations, delays, baggage issues and missed connections are highly likely across multiple European hubs during the holiday peak.European Airlines & Airport Strikes
Several airline-related strikes are set to reshape European air travel this month. In the UK, around 200 DHL-employed ground-handling workers at London Luton Airport will strike from 19–22 and 26–29 December, threatening more than 400 EasyJet flights. Routes to Paris-CDG, Lyon and Nice face added risks, and baggage delays or missed connections remain likely even though EasyJet plans to run its full programme through contingency labour.
In Portugal, the nationwide general strike on 11 December is expected to ground most flights. TAP Air Portugal has already cancelled services and will operate only minimum legally required connections. Even with agreements in place, operations will be extremely limited, and unions have warned that flying that day will be “very difficult.”
Italy’s December disruptions include a concentrated strike affecting Vueling, easyJet, and Air France/KLM ground staff on 17 December, alongside ENAV employees and handling teams across multiple airports. While only four hours long, the action is broad enough to slow operations significantly, especially on connections requiring ground services.
What Travellers Need to Know
Delays, last-minute cancellations and slow baggage delivery remain the most common impacts. Travellers should keep boarding essentials in carry-on and monitor flight status frequently, especially when connecting through affected hubs like Luton, Lisbon, and major Italian airports.
Passenger rights vary by origin and airline. Under EU261, compensation may apply for cancellations departing from the EU or flown by an EU carrier. In some cases, airlines may claim “extraordinary circumstances,” but applicability differs depending on whether the disruption is caused by their own staff or external airport personnel.
Rail, Public Transport & Countrywide Walkouts
December’s strike wave extends far beyond airports. In Italy, the 12 December national general strike called by CGIL threatens widespread disruption to regional, suburban, long-distance and airport rail services. While operators such as Trenord will offer guaranteed time-band services, most routes may be cancelled throughout the day. Replacement buses may run on busy airport corridors, but longer journey times and road congestion are likely.
In the UK, around 320 Metrolink tram drivers in Greater Manchester will walk out on 19, 20 and 31 December, overlapping with industrial action on the Bee bus network. The result is a double-layered challenge for residents and visitors relying on local transit during peak shopping days and New Year’s Eve events.
Across Europe, strike actions often spill into metros, buses and ferries when national unions mobilise. While no additional specifics were provided beyond these examples, travellers can generally expect local services to run reduced schedules, with crowding and rerouting common during large-scale walkouts.
Alternative Transport & Contingency Suggestions
Travellers may need to rely on taxis, ride-hailing apps or intercity buses where available. Some may shift to self-drive rentals or adjust itineraries to avoid strike windows entirely. Flexibility is essential, especially for those with onward connections.
Key Dates to Watch: Europe Strike Calendar for December 2025
11 December — Portugal (Nationwide General Strike)
Flights heavily reduced; most public transport also affected.
12 December — Italy (Nationwide General Strike)
Trains, regional transit and airport links disrupted; limited guaranteed services.
17 December — Italy (Sector-Specific Aviation & Handling Strike)
ENAV, Vueling, easyJet, Air France/KLM ground staff and multiple handling companies striking from 13:00–17:00.
19–20 December — UK (Manchester Tram Strike + Bee Bus Network Strike)
Metrolink drivers and 200 bus network staff walk out.
19–22 December — UK (London Luton Ground Handling Strike)
DHL ground staff walkout affecting EasyJet flights.
26–29 December — UK (London Luton Ground Handling Strike)
Second phase of the Luton disruption.
31 December — UK (Manchester Tram Strike)
Major effect on New Year’s Eve events.
Planning Around Strike Dates
Travellers should avoid booking critical legs during these windows or choose flexible fares. Early-morning and late-evening services may escape some stoppages, but this varies widely by country and operator.
What This Means for December & Christmas Travel
December typically brings peak travel demand as people head home for the holidays or take winter breaks. When strikes overlap with such periods, the risk of missed connections, airport congestion and unreliable timetables increases sharply. Even unaffected flights often face indirect delays as crews, aircraft and baggage systems struggle to absorb external pressure.
Recommendations for Travellers
Book flexible or refundable tickets.Allow generous buffer times for transfers.Consider travelling a day earlier if flying near major strike dates.Keep digital copies of all reservations and track flights closely.Purchase travel insurance that covers labour-related disruptions where available.Country-wise Impact
Portugal Strike
The 11 December general strike will significantly reduce flight operations and limit public transport nationwide. TAP will run only a handful of guaranteed flights to the Azores, Madeira, select European destinations, Brazil and the US. Most other services will either be cancelled or heavily delayed.
Italy Strikes
Two major actions hit Italy: the 12 December national strike disrupting the entire rail network, and the 17 December aviation-sector strike affecting ENAV, airline crews and ground handlers. Reduced airport services, limited trains and regional contraction are expected throughout the month.
UK
In the UK, significant disruption comes from Luton Airport ground-handling walkouts and Manchester’s tram and bus network strikes. These actions affect flight schedules, local mobility and large public events.
Long-Term Implications — What It Means for European Travel & Airlines
This December’s strike pattern may influence how airlines plan for future peak seasons. Recurrent labour disputes often push carriers to reconsider staffing levels, negotiate earlier with unions or expand contingency labour pools. For travellers, such instability may increase demand for flexible fares and comprehensive travel insurance.
Airports may adopt more robust operational buffers, while pricing could become more volatile if capacity shrinks during repeated labour actions. Over time, persistent strikes may shift booking behaviour, with travellers avoiding certain hubs during historically sensitive periods.
What Travellers Should Do — Travel Tips & Precautions
Travellers can reduce stress by tracking union announcements, subscribing to airline alerts and checking airport notices frequently. Allowing extra time at terminals, choosing alternate transport modes and keeping itineraries flexible can minimise disruption.
When possible, planning travel outside known strike windows provides a more predictable experience. For multi-city itineraries, travellers may look for rail-air combinations or adjust routing to avoid heavily affected hubs. Being proactive—rather than reactive—remains the most effective strategy during strike-heavy seasons.
Is Europe Becoming Strike-Prone Every Holiday Season?
Whether this surge of December walkouts represents a new trend or a temporary alignment of disputes remains uncertain. However, the concentration of actions during the festive period suggests deeper structural tensions between workers, governments and employers. Travellers must stay informed, and airlines and airports face growing pressure to strengthen resilience. The holiday season may remain vulnerable, but with careful planning, disruptions can be managed more effectively in the years ahead.
Image Source: AI
