Lisbon, Oct. 2, 2026 (Lusa) - The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Crew (SNPVAC) reported Friday that participation was high on the first of the five days of the easyJet cabin crew strike, adding that only minimum services are currently being provided.
Speaking to the Lusa news agency around 7:15 a.m., SNPVAC president Ricardo Penarroias said the strike is already having a major impact, with 80% of flights from domestic bases cancelled for the five-day strike.
According to Ricardo Penarroias, the first flights scheduled to operate as minimum services have begun to depart as planned, along with one from Porto, where the company will replace striking staff; the union will therefore use legal means «to hold the company accountable».
«At the moment, the minimum services are scheduled to operate, along with a flight departing from Porto, where the company will act unlawfully to operate the flight using local management (…). The company has once again chosen to circumvent the strike through unlawful means and, therefore, we will use legal means to hold the company accountable for yet another unlawful act during a strike,» he said.
Ricardo Penarroias added that the union will lodge a complaint with the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT) and take the matter to court.
«We already have a number of court cases specifically concerning the replacement of strikers in other strikes. It is a recurring practice on the part of the company, which prefers to pay fines rather than cancel the flight,» he stated.
The strike stems, among other demands, from the stability of flight schedules, pay progression based on length of service, and the terms proposed during negotiations for the Company Agreement.
«Firstly, because of the delay in negotiations over the company agreement. The proposal put forward by the company falls far short of what was expected, given that we are talking about some of the most profitable bases on the easyJet network. The proposal presented in August was rejected by an overwhelming majority and is below the standards practised in the aviation sector in Portugal, and far, far below those practised at European level,» he said.
In the union president's view, the company should share its substantial profits in Portugal with staff.
«The other reason relates to an operational issue, as occurred in 2024 when cabin crew went on strike: the company, in the name of profit and by refusing to hire staff, is causing tremendous physical and mental strain through constant changes to their flights. A cabin crew member is unable to maintain any control over their personal or family life,» he said.
The easyJet cabin crew strike began today and will continue until Tuesday, with 80% of flights already cancelled.
According to the union, 443 flights from the Lisbon, Porto and Faro bases scheduled for the five days of the strike have been cancelled.
The union acknowledged that other scheduled flights may also be affected by the strike, although some may operate using aircraft and crews from other European bases.
Meanwhile, an official source at easyJet told Lusa on Thursday that the airline expects to operate around 55% of its scheduled flights during the strike period, explaining that, in addition to minimum services, which account for around 22% of its Portugal-based operations, it is maintaining flights to and from the country operated from other European bases.
The airline says it is carrying out this operation «in full compliance with applicable legislation and regulations», while the SNPVAC considers using staff from other bases to replace strikers «illegal» and has acknowledged it may take the matter to court.
EasyJet cabin crew have also called a strike for 19–23 December.
DD/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
