Christmas travelers across Europe are being warned to brace for disruption as a wave of airport and transport strikes threatens to derail holiday plans in late December. With aviation workers increasingly targeting the busiest time of the year, walkouts over pay and working conditions are set to affect several major travel hubs.
With some strikes announced, travellers are being urged to check flight updates regularly and allow extra time at airports as Europe heads into one of the most unpredictable Christmas travel seasons in years.
In Italy, coordinated strike action on December 17th will involve air traffic controllers, ground handling staff, and airline crews, including employees linked to ENAV, Assohandlers, ITA Airways, and several international carriers. Although the official walkout is scheduled for four hours in the afternoon, authorities warn that knock-on effects such as flight delays and longer queues could last all day at airports including Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples.
The UK is also preparing for festive travel disruption. EasyJet ground staff at London Luton Airport plan to strike between 19–22 and 26–29 December, potentially affecting check-in and baggage services. According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Friday 19th December is expected to be the busiest travel day of the festive period, with around 460,000 passengers due to fly.
The regulator also noted that travel on Christmas Day itself is growing in popularity, with some 160,000 people expected to take to the air. Meanwhile, Scandinavian Airlines Services cabin crew will walk out at Heathrow on multiple dates around Christmas, putting flights to Nordic capitals at risk. Unions say low pay has left some workers relying on food banks while operating from costly Scandinavian destinations.
In Spain, ongoing strikes by baggage handlers working for Ryanair’s ground partner, Azul Handling, are expected to continue until the end of December. Repeated walkouts several days a week could lead to persistent delays at more than a dozen airports, including Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca.
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