Germany, Portugal, Italy: Travel strikes planned for September

Strikes are a regular occurrence in Europe, as employees withhold their labour to fight for better pay and conditions.

Walkouts are sometimes planned months ahead but others are announced last minute, showing that it always pays to check before you travel.

Luckily, we have gathered all of the strike information together below.

Read on to find out where and when are walkouts taking place.

If your flight or train is cancelled or delayed, you will be entitled to a new ticket or compensation. Read our guide for the full details.

Germany: Staff at airline Discover vote in favour of unlimited strikes

Pilots and cabin crew of Lufthansa-owned airline Discover voted in favour of strike action in two separate ballots. On Thursday 29 August, they extended the dates of the walkouts for an additional day.

Pilots and cabin crew will now walk out from 27 August to 1 September and all Discover departures from Germany will be affected.

In a statement, Discover said: “We are working to minimise the impact on our guests. Please check your current flight status regularly and enter your contact details in your booking.”

The airline has a fleet of 27 planes operating routes from Frankfurt, where it is based, and Munich to holiday destinations around Europe and overseas.

Portugal: Airport strikes to cause flight disruption

Airport ground workers with the Portuguese Transport Workers Union (Sttamp) will go on strike from midnight on 31 August to midnight 1 September.

It could cause flight delays and cancellations at major airports including Lisbon and Porto.

Travellers are advised to check with their airline before travelling during the walkout, which has been called over pay and working conditions.

Italy: Strikes planned after peak summer season

Italy’s transport sector is forbidden from going on strike between 27 July and 5 September, when most Italians take their holidays, meaning disruption at the height of the summer is unlikely.

After that date, a number of strikes are planned.

Italy airport strikes: 7 September 2024

If you are flying to, from or across Italy on 7 September you may experience delays or cancellations.

Pilots and cabin staff at Italy’s flagship carrier ITA Airways and budget airline Wizz Air plan to strike from 1-5pm. 

Air traffic controllers at Rome Fiumicino and Olbia Airport, and baggage handlers at Milan Malpensa, Florence Amerigo Vespucci and Pisa Galileo Galilei plan to walk out over the same four-hour period.

Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority’s website will be updated with further details on possible disruption closer to 7 September.

Italy nationwide rail strike: 8 September 2024

Train passengers in Italy may experience disruption on Sunday 8 September as drivers, conductors and other on-board staff around Italy plan to strike for 24 hours. 

The protest could impact both regional trains and long-distance services operated by state-owned Trenitalia and private company Italo.

Italy nationwide public transport strikes

Public transport passengers may face delays and/or cancellations on Monday 9 September as staff at bus, tram and commuter train operators around the country plan to strike for eight hours. 

The timing and impact of the strike, which is backed by some of Italy’s main transport unions, will vary from city to city. 

Another public transport strike, this one lasting 24 hours, is planned for 20 September.

Alicante airport: Security staff strike

Security staff strikes at Alicante-Elche airport in Spain have been extended.

Originally a five-day strike from 1-4 August, further dates have now been added: 15, 16, 17, 18, 30 and 31 August.

The airport serving the Costa Blanca will be affected between 8.30am-9.30am and 6pm-7pm local time.

British holiday company Jet2, which uses the airport for its package holidays, posted on its website: “The strike is supported by security services at the airport and will affect congestion at security control.” They advised passengers to arrive at the airport in plenty of time.

However airport operator Aena said there have yet to be significant delays to Alicante’s operations.

UK: Trains strikes suspended

Train driver strikes at London North Eastern Railway (LNER) planned for weekends between 31 August and 10 November have been called off after a last-minute deal was reached.

Minor strikes on the London Underground planned for 4 September have also been called off.

Threatened industrial action by train drivers at Scotland’s ScotRail has also been put on hold thanks to a new pay offer, which union members will vote on by 25 September.

In the meantime, however, a reduced number of services continues to run as some staff members have been refusing to work overtime since July.

ScotRail runs trains between big tourist destinations like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.

France: Motorway strikes hit summer holidays

Workers on France’s Autoroutes du Sud (ASF) and Vinci motorways have begun a summer of strikes in protest over falling staff numbers.

Weekend walkouts earlier this month hit holidaymakers heading out on their first trips of the summer break.

It is not yet clear whether further strike action will take place in the coming weeks.

Netherlands: Public transport strikes planned in September

A public transport strike has been announced in the Netherlands’ biggest cities on 11 September – a day earlier than initially planned – with more walkouts possible.

It comes ahead of the Cabinet’s budget proposal, which workers hope will include plans to allow those in physically demanding jobs to retire earlier.

Services in Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam will be impacted.

If you know of a big strike happening in your country that we have missed, we’d love to hear from you via Twitter.