Lisbon - Portugal

If you're planning to travel to Portugal in early October, you may need to monitor your booking more than usual. easyJet cabin crew in Portugal voted in favor of two strikes; The first is from October 2 to 6, and the second is from December 19 to 23, amid expectations that hundreds of flights will be affected through Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports.

Five days could confuse thousands of travelers

According to the SNPVAC union, about 500 scheduled flights may be affected during the October strike alone, with the final number remaining linked to minimum services that may be imposed later. This means that the impact is not limited to a specific flight or airport, but rather extends to three of the most important tourism gateways in Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and Faro.

But the timing of the strike increases the sensitivity of the situation; It coincides with a long weekend associated with the October 5 holiday, which may increase the amount of pressure on alternative flights and make rebooking more complicated if cancellations actually begin.

The dispute begins with working conditions
The background to the strike is related to demands related to wages, working conditions, and operating schedules, according to what the union announced. On the other hand, easyJet says that it is continuing mediation efforts with the competent authorities, and is working to reduce the impact on travelers as much as possible.

However, the problem does not end with the labor dispute itself; Because any reduction in the number of flights during a busy period may quickly be reflected in the prices of alternative flights, hotels and transportation within tourist destinations.

December may be more sensitive

If October threatens about 500 flights, December may be more sensitive due to the Christmas season and high demand for travel. So far, no final number has been announced for the flights that may be affected between December 19 and 23, but company sources indicated that the impact may be greater due to increased operation during this period.

What does a traveler do?

Therefore, the best step for the traveler is not to cancel the trip in advance, but rather to follow up on the reservation status directly through easyJet, and ensure the flexibility of the hotel and alternative transportation options. Also, those who have a flight between October 2 and 6 or between December 19 and 23 need to avoid narrow programs that rely on accurate arrivals on the same day.