easyJet cabin crew to strike in Portugal, threatening up to 500 flights
easyJet’s cabin crew at its Portuguese bases will walk out from Oct. 2 to Oct. 6, putting roughly 500 scheduled flights at risk.
Portugal’s national cabin-crew union SNPVAC has called a five-day walkout for easyJet staff at Faro, Lisbon and Porto, starting on Friday, Oct. 2 and running through Tuesday, Oct. 6. The union estimates that around 500 flights could be affected, although only about 35 UK-bound return services have been cancelled so far. EasyJet is proactively cancelling additional flights so passengers can rebook, and the strike overlaps with the Republic Day holiday, a peak travel period.
A Portuguese government order mandates minimum services, particularly routes linking to Madeira, but the exact number of cancellations remains fluid. Passengers with cancelled tickets may request refunds or alternative travel, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority requires airlines to provide meals, drinks and accommodation where needed. The dispute centers on deteriorating working conditions, alleged breaches of collective agreements and lower pay compared with other carriers.
