Brazil’s network of airport ground-handling and terminal workers has voted overwhelmingly to enter a state of greve (strike alert) and move to an “operação essencial” regime starting Friday, 5 December. The decision, taken in assemblies held on 2 December by unions affiliated with the National Federation of Civil Aviation Workers (FENTAC/CUT), means employees will limit their duties to the legally required minimum needed to preserve safety—such as marshalling aircraft, operating jet bridges and attending to medical diversions—while suspending all non-essential services.
The immediate trigger was the collapse of the 2025 wage round. Union leaders say the National Airline Employers’ Association (SNEA) back-tracked on earlier promises of real pay rises and improvements to meal allowances and rosters, despite airlines posting record load factors this year. Inflation in Brazil is running near 6 percent, and ground staff argue their purchasing power has eroded since the pandemic.
![Brazilian Airport Ground Staff Declare Nationwide "Operation Essential" From 5 December]()
Airports in São Paulo (GRU, CGH), Rio de Janeiro (GIG, SDU), Brasília, Porto Alegre and Recife employ the largest contingents of aeroviários and are expected to feel the earliest pinch. While air-traffic controllers and flight crews are not part of this action, experience from previous “operation essential” episodes shows that ramp back-logs quickly snowball into departure delays and missed connections—especially for early-morning bank structures favoured by business travellers.
Mobility managers are being advised to build longer connection buffers, encourage travellers to travel with carry-on only, and monitor individual airport social-media feeds for queue-length updates. Employers with assignees scheduled to arrive after 5 December should pre-book ground transport and allow additional time for baggage delivery. If negotiations fail to restart next week, the unions have threatened to escalate to a full-scale strike ahead of the Christmas peak.
The Ministry of Ports & Civil Aviation has the legal power to requisition staff, but in past disputes it has preferred to mediate. Observers note that airlines, under pressure to preserve on-time performance during the lucrative holiday period, could return to the table with an enhanced pay offer, but for now corporates should plan for at least several days of operational friction.
The immediate trigger was the collapse of the 2025 wage round. Union leaders say the National Airline Employers’ Association (SNEA) back-tracked on earlier promises of real pay rises and improvements to meal allowances and rosters, despite airlines posting record load factors this year. Inflation in Brazil is running near 6 percent, and ground staff argue their purchasing power has eroded since the pandemic.
Airports in São Paulo (GRU, CGH), Rio de Janeiro (GIG, SDU), Brasília, Porto Alegre and Recife employ the largest contingents of aeroviários and are expected to feel the earliest pinch. While air-traffic controllers and flight crews are not part of this action, experience from previous “operation essential” episodes shows that ramp back-logs quickly snowball into departure delays and missed connections—especially for early-morning bank structures favoured by business travellers.
Mobility managers are being advised to build longer connection buffers, encourage travellers to travel with carry-on only, and monitor individual airport social-media feeds for queue-length updates. Employers with assignees scheduled to arrive after 5 December should pre-book ground transport and allow additional time for baggage delivery. If negotiations fail to restart next week, the unions have threatened to escalate to a full-scale strike ahead of the Christmas peak.
The Ministry of Ports & Civil Aviation has the legal power to requisition staff, but in past disputes it has preferred to mediate. Observers note that airlines, under pressure to preserve on-time performance during the lucrative holiday period, could return to the table with an enhanced pay offer, but for now corporates should plan for at least several days of operational friction.
