Tuesday, June 13, 2023

Strikes at UK’s Heathrow Airport Expected to Impact Travel to Portugal This Summer

June 13, 2023
© Matyas Rehak | Dreamstime.com


The decision of the UK’s Heathrow Airport security staff to strike on the upcoming weekends of the summer has impacted Portuguese airports, including those in Lisbon, Faro, Porto and Madeira.

According to local media, there might be concerns about delays and cancellations and the overall travel experience for passengers travelling between the two countries can be troubled by disruptions caused by the strikes, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Every weekend there are sixty flights coming to and from Portugal every weekend, while British Airways and TAP are the main carriers.

Following these developments, passengers flying between the UK and Portugal can be subject to significant delays or even flight cancellations due to strikes.

Longer wait times for security checks and baggage screening can also be some of the effects of the decreased security staffing levels at Heathrow Airport, as well as the resulting congestion and increased workload for the remaining staff. Consequently, this might have a robust effect on the times that flights depart from and arrive from Portuguese airports.

The strikes are also expected to escalate as well as be a hassle for passengers going to or from Faro as well as other airports. The disruption can lead to flight reschedules, missed connections and extended layovers, for the prevention of which travellers are advised to stay informed about their flights, keep in contact with their airlines and arrive earlier at the airport when they are travelling.

The major airports in Portugal are among those expected to be impacted by the planned security staff strikes at Heathrow Airport, with the holiday season experiencing major issues. The possibility of flight delays, cancellations, and longer lines at security checkpoints should be expected, while strikes are expected to stretch all weekends in the summer.

However, the weather in Portugal has been stormy recently, which has adversely affected travel plans for thousands of people. In recent weeks, eight flights from and to Madeira Airport have been cancelled due to storms, leaving passengers stranded or locked in their hotel rooms as rain showers scattered throughout.

The weather is expected to improve next week, but only some regions will experience nice sunny weather. The weather in Lisbon improved this week, while the northern region is expected to experience an increase in temperatures only by Wednesday.

Rain showers might continue all throughout the week in the central region, while the southern region, although it will experience storms at the beginning of the week, it is expected to clear out by Tuesday.

Regardless of the weather or another circumstantial reason, travellers to any European country are advised to purchase travel insurance prior to their trip in order to protect themselves from inconveniences and get a full or partial refund of their money in case of anything unexpected happens.

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