Cabin crew members at easyJet bases across Portugal initiated a five-day strike action on Friday, October 2, disrupting travel routes across Lisbon, Porto, and Faro through Tuesday, October 6. According to the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), the walkout has already forced the cancellation of 443 flights operating out of the airline's Portuguese bases, accounting for approximately 80 percent of scheduled national services.
Union and Airline Operational Estimates Clash over Replacement Crews
Union leadership highlighted widespread cancellations across major domestic hubs while accusing the carrier of deploying foreign staff to mitigate worker walkouts. SNPVAC President Ana Dias stated that crew members arrived in Porto from French bases to operate flights intended to replace striking workers, characterizing the maneuver as illegal under labor regulations and signaling potential legal action.
Conversely, easyJet representatives reported that the company expects to operate roughly 55 percent of its scheduled flight operations during the five-day window. The budget carrier stated that statutory minimum service mandates cover roughly 22 percent of its Portugal-based operations, while additional international routes into Portugal are being fulfilled using aircraft and personnel dispatched from alternative European bases. easyJet emphasized that its contingency operations comply fully with applicable aviation law and labor legislation.
Core Industrial Grievances and December Holiday Strike Outlook
The current industrial action follows unresolved disputes between the cabin crew union and easyJet management regarding flight schedule predictability, length-of-service pay progression, and key terms proposed during corporate bargaining agreement negotiations.
SNPVAC has already ballot-approved a second five-day walkout scheduled for December 19 to 23, threatening significant travel disruptions across the peak Christmas holiday travel window unless a negotiated settlement is reached.
