Portugal general strike threatens flight disruption

A general strike in Portugal next week threatens to affect hundreds of flights.

The mass walkout planned by multiple unions on June 3 is expected to include cabin crew members of the SNPVAC union.

Ricardo Penarróias, president of the SNPVAC, told local Portuguese media that the industrial action could impact around 500 flights.

TAP Air Portugal, easyJet and Ryanair flights are all expected to be impacted, the union added.

EasyJet said it expects “some disruption” to it flying programme”. 

A spokesperson told national media: “We will be doing all we can to minimise the impact of the strike action and will contact customers directly with their options if their flights are affected 

“While this is outside of our control we are sorry for any inconvenience this strike action may cause.”

Flag carrier TAP said: “To minimise the potential disruption this strike may cause to its customers, TAP is allowing all passengers holding tickets issued by 20 May for flights scheduled on 3 June to bring their flight forward to dates between 27 May and 2 June or postpone it to dates between 4 and 11 June. These changes may be made without additional charges.”

However, Ryanair insisted it did not expect any disruption and would operate as normal.

The general strike was called by Portugal’s largest umbrella union, CGTP, in protest of the government’s labour reforms.