EasyJet Faces Two Five-Day Cabin Crew Strikes in Portugal Over Working Conditions

EasyJet's Portugal-based cabin crew have voted to conduct two separate five-day strikes in October and December, posing a significant threat of disruption for the low-cost carrier during a key travel period. The industrial action, announced by the SNPVAC union, stems from what it describes as worsening working conditions that the airline has failed to address.

Strike Details and Potential Impact

The first strike is scheduled to run from October 2 to 6, with the union estimating it will disrupt approximately 500 flights across Lisbon, Porto, and Faro airports. This figure, provided by a union spokesperson, does not account for any minimum-service flights that may be mandated by authorities.

A second five-day walkout is planned from December 19 to 23, coinciding with the peak Christmas travel season. This timing could lead to even greater operational and financial disruption for EasyJet, as airlines typically operate at higher capacity during the holidays.

Union Cites Unresolved Grievances

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According to the SNPVAC union, the decision to strike follows the airline's failure to resolve a number of ongoing issues despite repeated warnings. The union cited several key concerns that have contributed to the breakdown in labor relations:

• Unstable work rosters and operational planning failures.
• Alleged violations of the existing company agreement.
• Pressure on staff to work overtime to compensate for personnel shortages.
• Perceived discriminatory treatment of cabin crew compared to pilots.

For investors, prolonged labor disputes can present a material risk, potentially impacting revenue through flight cancellations and harming brand reputation among travelers. The market will be watching how EasyJet's management addresses the union's demands to mitigate the operational impact of these planned strikes.