Portuguese courts confirmed on 12 November 2025 that minimum-service orders will be enforced as Menzies Aviation ground-staff begin the latest 72-hour strike at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. The walkouts are part of a series of stoppages scheduled intermittently until January 2026 over pay and roster disputes.
Why Brazil is affected – TAP Air Portugal and Azul connect Lisbon to ten Brazilian cities, carrying roughly 12 % of all Brazil-Europe corporate traffic. During the previous strike window (7–10 Nov), 36 flights—including services to São Paulo, Recife and Rio—were cancelled and dozens delayed. Travel-management companies report that missed connections forced rerouting via Madrid and Paris, adding up to 18 hours to itineraries and inflating duty-of-care costs.
![Rolling Ground-Handling Strikes in Portugal Disrupt Flights for Brazilian Travellers]()
Advice for mobility managers – (1) Avoid tight connections at Lisbon through mid-December; (2) Issue blanket waivers allowing travellers to rebook via Madrid, Paris or Frankfurt; (3) Flag potential Schengen overstay risks for assignees whose 90/180-day clock could be affected by prolonged layovers.
Bigger picture – The dispute highlights Europe’s winter strike season, which traditionally hits airport handling, security and rail services. Brazilian corporates with year-end travel to client sites in Europe should budget additional contingency time and consider remote alternatives until labour peace is restored.
Why Brazil is affected – TAP Air Portugal and Azul connect Lisbon to ten Brazilian cities, carrying roughly 12 % of all Brazil-Europe corporate traffic. During the previous strike window (7–10 Nov), 36 flights—including services to São Paulo, Recife and Rio—were cancelled and dozens delayed. Travel-management companies report that missed connections forced rerouting via Madrid and Paris, adding up to 18 hours to itineraries and inflating duty-of-care costs.
Advice for mobility managers – (1) Avoid tight connections at Lisbon through mid-December; (2) Issue blanket waivers allowing travellers to rebook via Madrid, Paris or Frankfurt; (3) Flag potential Schengen overstay risks for assignees whose 90/180-day clock could be affected by prolonged layovers.
Bigger picture – The dispute highlights Europe’s winter strike season, which traditionally hits airport handling, security and rail services. Brazilian corporates with year-end travel to client sites in Europe should budget additional contingency time and consider remote alternatives until labour peace is restored.
