Two strike windows are looming for anyone flying easyJet to or from Portugal: 2 to 6 October 2026 and 19 to 23 December 2026. The action, voted through unanimously by members of the flight crew union SNPVAC at a meeting of 188 staff, will hit the airline's operations at Faro, Lisbon and Porto.
At least 500 flights are expected to be cancelled during the first wave alone, and the December walkout could ground even more services given the heavier pre-Christmas schedule. The timing is awkward for travellers on both counts: the October dates overlap with the long weekend around Portugal's Republic Day public holiday on 5 October, while the December dates land in the peak week for family trips, winter-sun getaways and ski flights.
The dispute centres on pay and working conditions. The union argues easyJet pays its Portuguese crew less than other airlines operating in the country — and less than easyJet pays the same roles elsewhere in its network — and wants salaries aligned with the cost of living and the national minimum wage. It also cites unstable rosters, understaffing, overtime pressure, planning problems and unequal treatment between cabin crew and pilots, plus alleged breaches of the collective labour agreement. SNPVAC has described the deadlock as long and intolerable, and accuses easyJet of undermining the right to strike by drafting in managers and crew from other countries to cover walkouts.
The airline, for its part, says it is extremely disappointed, calling the union's demands unworkable and insisting its Portuguese crew earn above the national minimum wage. It argues the sustainability of its operations in Portugal is at stake and that mediation through the DGERT authority failed to avert the action. Portugal's authorities may impose a minimum-service requirement during the strike dates, and easyJet says it will try to keep disruption to a minimum.
If your trip falls in either window, assume your flight could be affected. Watch for schedule changes from the airline, know your rebooking and refund rights under EU261 (which covers cancellations regardless of the cause), and consider booking refundable or flexible fares if you're travelling on those dates. Anyone with December flights might also weigh earlier or later travel dates, or an alternative carrier or airport, until the picture becomes clearer closer to the time. Strikes can also be called off after last-minute negotiations, so keep an eye on updates rather than cancelling prematurely.
