Europe is experiencing severe travel disruptions this Christmas as coordinated labor strikes across multiple countries have created what industry observers are calling the worst holiday travel period in years. From London Heathrow to Paris Charles de Gaulle, Frankfurt to Rome Fiumicino, thousands of passengers are facing uncertainty with over 1,500 flight delays and dozens of cancellations reported on Christmas Day alone.
The strikes, affecting ground handlers, baggage services, and airport security personnel in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, have created a perfect storm of delays. In Spain, a prolonged baggage-handling strike by Azul Handling workers has been ongoing since August, particularly impacting Ryanair operations at major airports including Barcelona, Madrid, and Palma de Mallorca.
Italy's transport sector remains in turmoil following a national air transport strike on December 17 that grounded hundreds of flights. Airports in Rome, Milan, and Venice are still dealing with aircraft repositioning issues and baggage backlogs that have cascaded into the holiday period. Further strikes are expected in the new year.
Adding to the chaos, the European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric scanning for non-EU travelers, has caused significant queues at border control points. The Airport Council International (ACI) Europe has warned that waiting times at the worst-affected airports can reach up to three hours.
Travel experts are advising passengers to arrive at airports at least four hours before departure and to check with their airlines for the latest updates. Many carriers have waived change fees to accommodate travelers seeking to rebook around the disruptions.
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