Lisbon, Dec. 12, 2025 (Lusa) - The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVCA) thanked its members in a statement for their "strong support for the strike," which led to "the cancellation of around 400 flights."
"On 11 December, the strike led to the cancellation of around 400 flights, with only minimum service flights being operated, except for two airlines — easyJet and Ryanair," the SNPVCA announced on Thursday evening.
Regarding the two low-cost airlines, the union added that "although they were residual, the flights operated by easyJet, in addition to the minimum services, were operated by managers or crew from other bases, once again violating Portuguese law. This situation is unacceptable and repetitive, so the ACT [Authority for Working Conditions] will once again be called upon to intervene and administrative proceedings will be brought against easyJet."
The union holds the government "responsible for the inconvenience caused to passengers and the costs incurred by today's strike". "They are entirely responsible for their intransigent stance," says the SNPVA.
The SNPVCA stressed that, "despite the government's downplaying of the participation rates and attempts to discredit the strike, the overwhelming force of this strike is evident, with several flights having been cancelled in the previous days", with companies assuming that "participation would be overwhelming, [and] not risking very likely chaos at airports".
"Therefore, to claim that the general strike was insignificant is to be out of touch with reality or to be tied to one's ideological doctrine," the statement adds.
The government, through the minister of cabinet affairs, Leitão Amaro, considered participation in the strike to be insignificant, estimating participation at between 0 and 10%.
The CGTP claimed that three million workers joined the strike, and the UGT estimated participation at 80%.
This was the first general strike called by the CGTP and UGT in 12 years, affecting sectors such as transport, schools, hospitals, and health centres.
APL/ADB // ADB.
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