Photo by Karim Balaa on Unsplash
If you are planning to travel to or within Europe or North America this December, you are walking into a complex web of logistical challenges. From a massive general strike wave in Southern Europe to recurring rail walkouts in the UK, December 2025 is shaping up to be a record-breaking month for both passenger numbers and disruptions. Here is the essential breakdown of what is happening.
Travellers should mark these dates with a red flag. If you are flying or taking the train on these days, check the status of your travel planes.
| Date | Country | Disruption Event | Impact Level |
| 2 Dec | France | National General Strike | Low. Minimal disruption |
| 6 Dec | UK | CrossCountry Rail Strike | High. Severe disruption on Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds routes. |
| 9 Dec | Italy | Rome Transit Strike | Medium. 24-hour halt on Rome buses, trams, and metro (ATAC). |
| 10 Dec | Global/Canada | Air Transat Strike Deadline | Critical. Pilots may legally strike from this date; affects transatlantic routes. |
| 11 Dec | Portugal | General Strike | High. Flights grounded (TAP Air, EasyJet), trains halted nationwide. |
| 12 Dec | Italy | General Strike | Severe. Trains (00:01–21:00) and local transit stopped nationwide. |
| 13 Dec | UK | CrossCountry Rail Strike | High. Weekend travel chaos for UK intercity routes. |
| 17 Dec | Italy | Aviation Strike (1pm-5pm) | Medium. 4-hour walkout by controllers/staff. Affects ITA, Vueling, Air France/KLM. |
| 20 & 27 Dec | UK | CrossCountry Rail Strike | Severe. Hits peak Christmas getaway and return travel. |
Italy – Possible Major Disruption
Italy is facing the most complex set of disruptions this month.
12 Dec General Strike: This is the major event. It is a protest against the government’s 2026 budget. Expect trains (Trenitalia, Italo, Trenord) to stop running from 00:01 to 21:00.
Aviation Specifics (17 Dec): Even if you miss the general strike, a specific aviation walkout is planned for 17 Dec (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM). This involves air traffic controllers and ground handling, specifically targeting ITA Airways, Vueling, and Air France/KLM operations in Italy.
Ferry Strike: A national ferry strike will also impact travel to islands (Sardinia/Sicily) from 9 Dec to 11 Dec.
Portugal – Strikes at Major Airports
Strikes: Unions have called a general strike for 11 December to protest labor law reforms.
Flights: Expect most flights to be grounded. Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), and Faro (FAO) will see massive cancellations.
Minimum Services: While the government may decree “minimum services,” these are usually restricted to emergency travel or flights to islands (Azores/Madeira). Do not rely on your commercial flight operating.
United Kingdom – Christmas Train Strikes
CrossCountry Train Strikes: The RMT union has confirmed strikes for 6, 13, 20, and 27 Dec. Because CrossCountry connects major hubs (Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff) without going into London, this severs the “spine” of UK rail travel.
Eurostar Trains: Beyond the strikes, Eurostar has announced cancellations due to engineering works on 4, 10-11, and 14-19 Dec. If you are taking the train to Paris or Brussels, check your specific train number now.
Airport Crowds: UK airports are forecasting their busiest Christmas ever (22 million passengers). Heathrow alone expects 7 million. Arrive earlier than usual and check security wait times before you arrive.
North America – Weather and Strikes
Air Transat (Canada): Pilots have opened a “strike center” in Montreal. The cooling-off period ends 10 Dec. If no deal is reached, a strike could be declared immediately, grounding flights between Canada and Europe/Sun destinations.
Winter Storms: A Nor’easter is currently (2-3 Dec) impacting the US East Coast. Looking ahead, forecasts predict heavy precipitation in the Pacific Northwest and Northeast US around 9-11 Dec, overlapping with the start of European strikes.
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