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SATA strike in the Azores until 3 November 2026: Azores Airlines and SATA Air Açores flights disrupted

Published · VolClaim

Staff at SATA Handling, which provides ground handling in the Azores, are holding a partial strike of three hours a day from 21 October to 3 November 2026. Delays and cancellations were reported from the first day. From 28 October the strike moves to the late afternoon, and a new notice targets overtime until the end of December.

Strike hours

According to the Lusa news agency, as reported by Observador, the notice was filed on 9 October by the SITAVA and SINTAC unions. From 21 to 27 October, the strike runs daily from 7.30am to 10.30am Azores time. From 28 October to 3 November, it moves to 4pm to 7pm. Since the switch to winter time, the Azores are two hours behind Paris, so this means 9.30am to 12.30pm, then 6pm to 9pm, Paris time.

The unions oppose the Azores regional government's plan to sell off the entire ground handling business. An arbitration tribunal has set minimum services, which the unions call disproportionate while saying they will comply, Jornal Açores 9 reports.

Which flights are affected

The SATA group warned that the strike could cause delays and changes for SATA Air Açores, which flies between the islands, and for Azores Airlines, which serves mainland Portugal and international routes. On 21 October, RTP reported significant delays on most morning flights and several inter-island cancellations, notably from Ponta Delgada. Açoriano Oriental counted six cancellations that day. No full figures have been published since.

According to RTP Açores, a new strike notice covering overtime was filed on 23 October for the period from 6 November to 31 December. A meeting with the regional administration was due on 26 October to negotiate minimum services. Its effect on flights is not yet known.

Rebooking and practical advice

Açoriano Oriental reports that SATA lets passengers travelling between 21 October and 3 November move their flight, with no fee or fare difference, to a date between 18 October and 10 November outside the strike windows. The airline advises travelling with cabin baggage only where possible, checking in online and arriving on time. Keep your boarding passes and receipts for meals or hotels.

EU Regulation 261/2004 covers flights departing from the Azores and flights operated by SATA. If your flight is cancelled, the airline must offer a refund or rerouting, plus care while you wait. Compensation of 250, 400 or 600 € depends on the cause: SATA Handling belongs to the same group as the airline, and whether this strike counts as extraordinary is assessed case by case.

Frequently asked questions

Will my Azores Airlines flight on 30 October be disrupted?

It may be. From 28 October to 3 November, the strike runs from 4pm to 7pm Azores time. Check your flight status and messages from SATA before you set off.

Can I get compensation if my SATA flight is cancelled or badly delayed?

It depends on the cause and how much notice you were given. A refund or rerouting and care are owed in every case. VolClaim checks your eligibility for free.

Sources

  1. Greve na SATA Handling entre 21 de outubro e 3 de novembro — Observador, avec l'agence Lusa (9 octobre 2026)
  2. Grupo SATA ativa plano de contingência devido a greve no handling — Açoriano Oriental (14 octobre 2026)
  3. Açores. Greve no handling da SATA provoca atrasos e cancelamentos — RTP (21 octobre 2026)
  4. Operação da SATA regista “alguns constrangimentos” devido à greve no ‘handling’ — Açoriano Oriental (21 octobre 2026)
  5. Sindicatos “chocados” com decisão do Tribunal Arbitral sobre greve na SATA Handling — Jornal Açores 9 (20 octobre 2026)
  6. Novo pré-aviso de greve entregue pelos sindicatos dos trabalhadores do Handling da SATA — RTP Açores (23 octobre 2026)

News written by the VolClaim editorial team, a service operated by TETRIS GROUP LLC, based on the sources cited. Information may change: always check your flight status with the airline.

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