easyJet cabin crew plan Portugal strike from 19 to 23 December

Disruption overview

A planned easyJet cabin crew walkout in Portugal from 19 to 23 December 2026 could disrupt services at Lisbon Airport, Porto Airport, and Faro Airport, including routes to and from Europe and the UK. Previous similar action caused more than 400 cancellations.

If you're affected by the airline's own crew strike, EC 261 compensation may apply, but canceled flights qualify only when passengers receive less than 14 days' notice and meet the other eligibility conditions. Even when compensation isn't owed, a cancellation still gives you the choice of an alternative flight or a refund, with care available during qualifying waits.

Disruption details

easyJet cabin crew in Portugal are set to strike from 19 to 23 December 2026, putting flights at risk of cancellation at Lisbon Airport, Porto Airport, and Faro Airport. The planned walkout follows earlier industrial action that disrupted hundreds of flights.

If you're booked to travel during those dates, the uncertainty could make planning your trip harder. Services between Portugal, the rest of Europe and the UK could be affected, extending the impact beyond Portuguese airports.

The December action is planned as a second cabin crew strike. A previous similar walkout led to more than 400 flight cancellations.

Lisbon, Porto, and Faro are among Portugal's busiest airports. With easyJet services at all 3 expected to be affected, passengers traveling to or from different parts of the country could face changes to their plans if the strike goes ahead.

easyJet operates routes between Portugal and Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton, Southend, Manchester, and Newcastle. If you're flying on one of these routes during the strike dates, keep an eye on your booking and any messages from the airline.

easyJet said it was disappointed by the planned walkout and wanted to keep discussions constructive. The airline also said it had already begun a mediation process aimed at reaching an agreement.

The cabin crew dispute comes alongside wider strike plans in Portugal. A possible general strike on 11 November 2026 could coincide with planned action in Spain, creating a coordinated stoppage across both countries if both proceed.

Separately, the Frente Comum of Public Administration Unions has announced nationwide action against the proposed 2027 State Budget. That strike covers public services rather than aviation specifically, with schools, healthcare, and administrative services among the sectors that could be disrupted.

For passengers, it's important to distinguish these wider strikes from easyJet's own cabin crew action. Under EC 261, the EU's air passenger rights rules, disruptions due to an airline staff strike can qualify for compensation, while disruption caused by broader strikes outside the airline's control do not.

The timing of a cancellation notice matters, too. Even though the strike has been announced in advance, what counts is when easyJet tells you that your specific flight is canceled. Cancellation compensation applies if you're notified less than 14 days before departure, and eligibility still depends on your flight and any alternative offered. If you're notified over 14 days ahead, cancellation compensation isn't owed.

If your covered flight is canceled at short notice or delayed by more than 3 hours because of the cabin crew strike, you may be entitled to up to £520 compensation under EC 261.

Compensation isn't your only protection. If your flight is canceled, you can additionally choose an alternative flight or a refund. Depending on your wait, you're also entitled to care such as food, refreshments, and overnight accommodation when needed. You can use AirHelp's free flight checker to check whether your disruption qualifies for compensation.

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Information on this page is AI generated, but always checked by a (human) passenger right expert.