On December 24, local time, the nationwide multi-sector strike in Portugal escalated, with airport ground services becoming a key area of focus, severely disrupting travel plans during the Western traditional holiday season. Ground staff from the Menzies company, responsible for the main airport ground services in Portugal, began their strike on the 22nd and will continue for five days; while another ground service company, Portway, plans a full 24-hour strike on December 24 and 31. Hundreds of flights have been affected to varying degrees. Other key Industries are also joining the wave of strikes. In the retail sector, employees of some large chain supermarkets and telecommunications companies announced that they would stop work on the 24th and 31st.