easyJet Portugal cabin crew strike, 2 to 6 October 2026: what UK passengers can claim

What happened

The strike was called by SNPVAC, the Portuguese cabin crew union, after 188 easyJet crew members voted unanimously for it on 17 September, Euronews reported. It covered the long weekend around Portugal's Republic Day holiday on 5 October. The union pointed to frequent roster changes, pressure to work overtime because of staff shortages and pay it says is lower than at other Portuguese airlines.

easyJet cut part of its programme in advance so that passengers could change their plans earlier. Speaking to the Lusa news agency, as reported by DNoticias, the airline said it had initially planned 786 flights to and from Portugal over the five days and had reduced this to 442. The union put the number of flights cancelled before the strike began at 343.

UK flights affected

Before the strike, easyJet said that around 35 return flights to and from the UK had been affected, according to Aviation A2Z and Euro Weekly News. easyJet links Portugal with UK airports including Gatwick, Luton, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham and Glasgow. A full list of the UK flights cancelled has not been published.

Portuguese law requires minimum services during strikes. A government order protected 57 round trips over the five days, including one daily Lisbon to London return flight, Aerocorner reported. Other flights between the UK and Portugal were not protected.

Can you claim compensation?

A strike by an airline's own staff over pay and working conditions is generally not an extraordinary circumstance. The Court of Justice of the European Union said so in March 2021 in case C-28/20, Airhelp v SAS. UK courts are not bound by EU rulings given after Brexit, but this judgment remains a widely used reference.

Compensation may therefore be due if your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure, or arrived 3 hours or more late: £220, £350 or £520 per passenger under UK261 for flights from the UK, or €250, €400 or €600 under EU261 for flights from Portugal. If easyJet told you about the cancellation 14 days or more before departure, fixed compensation does not apply, so the date on your notification matters. Whatever the cause, you were entitled to a refund or an alternative flight, and to care while you waited, such as meals and, if needed, a hotel and transfers.

There is still time: in England and Wales, UK261 claims can be brought up to six years after the flight, and up to five years in Scotland.

A second strike is planned in December

The same crew have called a second strike from 19 to 23 December 2026, as explained in our article of 20 October. That strike is announced and may still change.

If your easyJet flight between the UK and Portugal was cancelled or delayed during the October strike, FlightClaimHQ can check your case and handle the claim for you.

Can I get compensation for an easyJet flight cancelled by the Portugal strike in October 2026?

Possibly. A strike by easyJet's own cabin crew is generally not an extraordinary circumstance, so compensation may be due if the flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure or arrived 3 hours or more late. It depends on the facts of each flight.

How long do I have to claim for a flight from the UK?

Under UK261, claims can be brought up to six years after the flight in England and Wales, and up to five years in Scotland.