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EasyJet Portugal cabin crew vote for October, pre-Christmas strikes - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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EasyJet Portugal cabin crew vote for October, pre-Christmas strikes

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on September 17, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: September 17, 2026

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EasyJet Portugal Cabin Crew to Strike in October and Pre-Christmas Period

Details and Impact of the Planned EasyJet Cabin Crew Strike in Portugal

Strike Dates and Scope

LISBON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - EasyJet's Portugal-based cabin crew, voted on Thursday to go on strike between October 2 and 6 and again from December 19 to 23 to protest poor working conditions, in a move likely to ground hundreds of flights at Portuguese airports, a spokesperson for the SNPVAC union said.

Expected Disruptions

The first strike alone is expected to ground some 500 scheduled EasyJet flights to and from Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports, excluding any minimum-service flights yet to be determined by authorities, according to union estimates.

Reasons Behind the Strike

The spokesperson for the leading Portuguese cabin crew union said working conditions for Portugal-based crew "continued to deteriorate despite warnings from the union that the airline had failed to address".

Main Complaints

The complaints centre on unstable rosters, breaches of the company agreement, discriminatory treatment compared with pilots, operational planning failures, and pressure to work overtime to cover staff shortages, the spokesperson said.

Potential Impact on Holiday Travel

The second stoppage could have an even greater impact on the low-cost carrier's operations, as it coincides with the busy Christmas travel season, when airlines operate fuller flight schedules.

EasyJet's Response

EasyJet said in a statement it was "extremely disappointed" by the strike plans that come despite ongoing talks mediated by the country's labour authority DGERT. The talks are aimed at reaching an agreement that would address employees' concerns while protecting the sustainability of its business in Portugal, it added. 

Company's Position on Union Demands

It described the union's demands as "unworkable", saying crew are paid well above Portugal's national average, and added it would do everything possible to minimise disruption to passengers' travel plans.

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Louise Heavens)

Key Takeaways

  • October 2–6 strike could impact ~500 EasyJet flights at Lisbon, Porto & Faro bases (rr.pt)
  • Crew cite unstable rosters, company‐agreement breaches, discrimination vs pilots, planning failures, and overtime pressure (rr.pt)
  • December 19–23 strike coincides with busy holiday season, potentially causing greater operational disruptions (rr.pt)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

When are EasyJet Portugal cabin crew planning to strike?
Strikes are scheduled for October 2-6 and December 19-23.
Which airports will be affected by the EasyJet strikes?
Flights at Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports are expected to be affected.
Why are EasyJet cabin crew in Portugal going on strike?
The crew are protesting poor working conditions, unstable rosters, and breaches of agreements.
How many EasyJet flights might be grounded during the first strike?
Union estimates suggest around 500 flights could be grounded.
What does EasyJet say about the strike plans?
EasyJet is disappointed and is trying to minimise passenger disruption while continuing negotiations.

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