easyJet’s five-day cabin crew strike in Portugal ended on Tuesday 6 October after 443 flights were cancelled from the airline’s Lisbon, Porto and Faro bases. But the dispute is far from over. A second walkout is already scheduled for 19 to 23 December, right in the middle of the Christmas travel peak.
What happened this week
The strike ran from 2 to 6 October, called by the SNPVAC union. The final cancellation count of 443 flights represents roughly 80 percent of what the Portugal-based crews were scheduled to fly. easyJet told Portugal’s Lusa news agency it managed to operate about 55 percent of its Portugal schedule, using minimum services ordered by the authorities plus aircraft and crews flown in from its other European bases.
That last point is now the main battleground. The union calls bringing in crews from other bases an illegal replacement of striking workers and plans complaints to Portugal’s labour inspectorate and the courts. easyJet says it acted within the law.
The December strike
The second strike window, 19 to 23 December, is officially confirmed. Minimum service arrangements for it are already being set, given the Christmas peak. The union warns the December impact could be bigger than October’s because easyJet traditionally flies a heavier programme over the holidays, although no flight count estimate has been published.
What UK travellers should do
Lisbon, Porto and Faro are major UK leisure routes, and the December dates fall exactly when many Brits fly out for Christmas. A few practical steps now will save stress later.
- Do not panic if you are already booked for those dates. easyJet has made no announcement about cancelling December flights yet, and a settlement remains possible.
- If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a refund or rebooking, and because this is a strike by the airline’s own staff, compensation of up to £520 under UK261 may apply if you are notified less than 14 days before departure.
- Keep your booking contact details up to date in the easyJet app so schedule changes reach you fast.
- During the October strike, two return flights and one outbound flight from Southend were cancelled, while no Stansted flights were affected. Impact varies by route, so check your specific flight rather than assuming the worst.
Why crews are striking
The dispute centres on pay, roster instability, staffing shortages and overtime. The union says easyJet cabin crew in Portugal are paid less than their counterparts at other Portuguese airlines and below easyJet crews in other countries. It also alleges breaches of the collective labour agreement. easyJet says it left conciliation talks after the strike notice was filed.
If you are flying to Portugal this Christmas, watch this story in the weeks ahead.
