Phoenix 24
Labor tensions threaten holiday travel across European skies.
Lisbon, Portugal.
easyJet faces significant operational disruption in Portugal after cabin crew voted to hold two strikes during October and December, placing hundreds of flights at risk during periods of high passenger demand. The industrial action is scheduled for October 2 to 6 and December 19 to 23, affecting operations at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports. According to the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), approximately 500 flights could be grounded during the October stoppage alone, excluding any minimum services required by authorities. The announcement introduces uncertainty for travelers planning autumn holidays and Christmas journeys.
The strike decision followed an emergency general meeting in which all 188 participating easyJet employees voted in favor of industrial action. Union representatives argue that repeated attempts to resolve disputes over pay and working conditions have failed to produce meaningful results. Their complaints include frequent changes to duty rosters, alleged violations of the collective labor agreement, unequal treatment compared with pilots and pressure to work overtime because of staffing shortages. The union maintains that these problems have created an increasingly difficult working environment for Portugal-based crews.
Compensation has emerged as another central source of disagreement. SNPVAC claims that easyJet employees in Portugal receive lower salaries than colleagues working for the airline in other countries and less than workers employed by competing carriers in the Portuguese market. The organization argues that remuneration should better reflect living costs and the responsibilities associated with cabin operations. These claims form part of the union’s position and remain contested by the airline.
easyJet has expressed strong disappointment with the proposed strikes, describing the union’s demands as unworkable. The company maintains that its Portuguese cabin crew receive salaries considerably above the national average and insists that negotiations remain underway. Discussions are being mediated by Portugal’s Directorate-General for Employment and Labor Relations, known as DGERT, with the objective of reaching an agreement that addresses employee concerns while preserving operational sustainability. The airline has also pledged to minimize disruption to passengers.
The timing of the walkouts significantly increases their potential consequences. The October strike overlaps with Portugal’s Republic Day holiday on October 5, creating a long weekend during which leisure travel demand may increase. The December stoppage coincides with the Christmas travel season and concludes just two days before Christmas Day. Both periods present particular challenges for airlines attempting to accommodate passengers when available seats on alternative services may be limited.
The union has also accused easyJet of previously deploying managers and cabin crew from other countries to operate flights during industrial action. SNPVAC argues that this practice undermines the effectiveness of strikes, although the company’s operational decisions must be assessed within the applicable legal framework. The disagreement illustrates the tension between maintaining essential commercial operations and protecting employees’ ability to undertake collective action.
For passengers, the immediate priority is obtaining reliable information about individual flights. The union’s estimate of 500 affected services represents a potential disruption rather than a confirmed cancellation schedule, and the eventual impact will depend on negotiations, staffing arrangements and any minimum-service requirements.
The dispute exposes a broader challenge within Europe’s low-cost aviation industry, where operational efficiency depends on complex scheduling systems and sustained workforce availability. Its resolution will depend on whether management and employee representatives can reconcile competing expectations before the first scheduled walkout.
Hechos que no se doblan. / Facts that do not bend.