easyJet Portugal cabin-crew strike begins: 500 flights at risk, UK services cancelled

EasyJet cabin crew in Portugal have walked out for the first of five strike days, with around 500 flights estimated at risk between 2 and 6 October.

The walkout was called by the SNPVAC union — the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel — and affects easyJet’s bases at Lisbon, Porto and Faro, the Scottish Sun reported. The union estimates that around 500 scheduled flights could be grounded over the five days, before any minimum-service order is applied.

On day one, easyJet confirmed that two return flights between Manchester and Portugal had been cancelled, with affected passengers contacted directly, according to a live day-1 report. The airline also confirmed around 35 UK return flights are affected overall, while the Scottish Sun reported two return flights and one outbound flight from London Southend had already been cancelled.

The dispute centres on pay, rostering and working conditions for Portugal-based cabin crew. Portugal’s government has guaranteed a minimum of one Lisbon-London-Lisbon rotation per day during the strike, though services from Faro and Porto have no such protection.

An easyJet spokesperson said the airline was “extremely disappointed” at the action, adding that customers on cancelled flights had been informed directly and offered a free transfer or a refund.

SNPVAC has also announced a second five-day walkout from 19 to 23 December, the Irish Sun reported.