September strikes are set to take place across some of Europe’s most popular hotspots (Picture: Getty/Metro)
October is the peak of shoulder season — the transitional period between peak and off-peak — where there are fewer crowds and more affordable flights and accommodation.
It’s also a time when unbearable 40°C in hotspots like Seville and Lisbon shift to more comfortable temperatures.
Families without kids, or those with children outside of school age, prefer to travel during this time, too, as it allows them to soak up the last of the summer sun without overspending.
However, travellers heading to popular European countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and France this month should double-check their bookings.
European travel could be disrupted in the next few weeks (Picture: Getty Images)
Several strikes have been confirmed, with one slated on home soil at a UK airport that has since been called off.
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Worried about your holiday? The Metro Travel team has rounded up all the strikes set to take place from now until the end of the month, and beyond.
Spain
Azul Handling, the company that provides ground handling services to Ryanair Group airlines at several Spanish airports, have been striking since August 15.
Over 3,000 workers in Spain began campaigning for increased pay, better working conditions, job security, and medical leave. Disputes with overtime were brought up, too.
Staff will stage strikes from 5am to 9am every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December 31.
Canarian Weekly has said Ryanair’s 12 Spanish bases will be affected: Alicante, Barcelona, Girona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Santiago de Compostela, Sevilla, Tenerife South, and Valencia.
Azul Handling are campaigning for better pay and working conditions (Picture: Getty Images)
The outlet said that while the airports aren’t officially part of the strikes, schedules could experience knock-on delays and cancellations.
However, Ryanair insists there will be no disruption to travellers. The airline said: ‘We do not expect any interruption to our operations as a result of these third-party strikes in Spain.’
UK
Passengers travelling through Bournemouth Airport were set to face major disruption due to a series of strikes planned for September 30, October 1, October 16 and October 17.
Around 80 members of the Unite trade union, who work in different areas of the airport, including baggage handling, check-in, flight dispatching and plane fuelling, were ready to walk out after they rejected a new pay offer.
But hours before, the action was suspended after the board of the airport came back with an improved offer.
Bournemouth Airport serves over 950,000 passengers each year, with flights to 34 destinations across Europe and North Africa. Most are operated by airlines such as TUI and Ryanair.
More upheaval may yet be to come though, as almost 130 Unite members working for Aer Lingus UK out of Manchester Airport are currently being balloted to take strike action.
It comes after workers – including check-in staff and cabin crew – rejected a pay offer of 12% over two years, arguing the rise is not sufficient to address years of low wages.
Unite regional officer John O’Neill commented: ‘We recognise anyone with upcoming Aer Lingus flights will be concerned to hear of potential strikes and how it may impact their travel plans, but workers feel they have no choice but to ballot for industrial action to make their voices heard.
‘Although on paper the company’s offer seems impressive, our members are telling us a very different story. Base pay is so low that people are struggling to cover essentials, for example we’ve had multiple reports of staff unable to afford their rent.
‘Aer Lingus must come back to the table with an improved offer to avoid any disruption.’
The ballot will close on October 13, and strikes could start as early as late October to coincide with the half term break.
Belgium
Up to 70,000 plane passengers are due to be affected by upcoming strikesin Brussels on October 14.
During the 24-hour security and ground staff walkout, departing flights from Brussels Airport will be cancelled, while all flights will be cancelled in and out of Brussels South Charleroi Airport.
In a statement, Brussels Airport management said: ‘Due to the national trade union action on Tuesday October 14, in which the staff of the security service provider are participating, we unfortunately expect a major impact on our airport operations.’
These strikes are part of a wider set of Belgian industrial actions set for October 14, with unions protesting government proposals to raise the retirement age and reform pensions.
Latest European travel news
France
French air traffic controllers called off their proposed October strikes, sparing travellers across Europe from serious disruption.
France’s biggest air traffic control union, the SNCTA, was due to begin industrial action from the morning of Tuesday, October 7, until the morning of Friday, October 10.
The SNCTA told AFP it had ‘made progress on internal issues’ and held ‘calm discussions with all parties involved,’ with these agreements leading to the walkouts being cancelled.
Portugal
Portuguese strikes were set to continue periodically for the rest of the year and into January 2026. But in good news for travellers, the 76-day action by Menzies Aviation ground staff has now been called off.
Workers voted to cancel the action, saying the imposed minimum service requirements made striking effectively impossible.
They had been calling for increased pay, better working conditions, employee parking, and night shift compensation, along with fulfilment of previously agreed working terms.
If you’re travelling to Portugal soon, there could be strikes that may impact your trip. Here’s what you need to know: Baggage handlers at major airports including Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Madeira and the Azores are threatening to strike every weekend from September 3rd to mid-December. Extra strikes are also planned for Christmas and New Year from December 19th to January 2nd 2026. What does this mean for travellers? If the strikes go ahead you should expect delays at baggage claim, particularly if you’re travelling on a Friday through to Monday. If you’re travelling to Portugal soon, we recommend checking with your airline before you fly to see if you might encounter delays. It’s a good idea to allow some extra time for your delays and also potentially consider flying midweek to avoid strike days. #Portugal #PortugalStrikes #PortugalAirportStrikes #EuropeTravel
The industrial action had been called by SIMA (the Union of Metal and Related Industries) and STA (the Transport Union), targeting Menzies (formerly Groundforce), the company responsible for ground handling services at Portuguese airports.
However, Portugal’s Arbitration Court, under the Economic and Social Council, ruled that minimum service levels had to be maintained.
SIMA hit back, calling the decision a ‘real attack on the right to strike of the Portuguese workers in general and of that company in particular’.
Italy
To protect holiday travel, strikes are banned during the peak summer season from late July to early September.
But now that the window is over, it’s fair game. On September 26, a 24-hour walkout paralysed Italian air travel, as several aviation strikes took place at once.
Organised by the transport union CUB Trasporti, baggage handlers, ground staff, and crew with the Spanish carrier Volotea and Wizz Air Malta downed tools, as well as security staff at Sardinia’s Cagliari Elmas Airport.
Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports were hardest hit, with dozens of flights delayed and cancelled.
The strikes were in response to disputes over working conditions, staffing levels across Italy’s transport sector, and pay disagreements.
It followed further action last month, when cities across Italy ground to a standstill as workers staged a sweeping general strike in support of Gaza. Railway, port and local public transport networks were severely disrupted until 11pm, across several hotspots including Rome, Naples, and Milan.
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