An industrial dispute affecting easyJet cabin crew is disrupting air travel to and from Portugal between 2 and 6 October 2026, with an estimated 500 flights at risk from Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO) and Faro (FAO).
What Is Happening
The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC) called a walkout beginning 2 October and running through 6 October. The strike targets easyJet operations specifically, though the disruption is wider: several other airlines serving Portugal — including TAP Air Portugal, Etihad Airways and Ryanair — have also cancelled or reorganised services across routes connecting the UK, Spain, France, Germany and other European markets to Portugal’s three main airports.
Separately, Ryanair announced the cancellation of approximately 173 flights to and from Portugal through the end of October. The airline describes this as a schedule reduction unrelated to the cabin crew walkout, but it compounds the disruption for travellers this month.
Which Airports Are Affected
All three major mainland airports are involved:
- Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS): The busiest airport in Portugal and the primary easyJet hub.
- Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro (OPO): The main gateway to Porto and the north.
- Faro International (FAO): The main entry point for the Algarve and the primary airport for visitors heading to Faro and the southern coast.
Madeira and the Azores are not directly affected by the cabin crew dispute.
What to Do If Your Flight Is Cancelled
If you have an easyJet booking to or from Lisbon, Porto or Faro before 6 October, check the easyJet app for your specific flight status. Under EU261/2004 rules — which apply to all flights operating to and from Portugal — you are entitled to a full refund or rebooking on an alternative service if your flight is cancelled.
Ryanair passengers affected by the separate schedule cuts should contact Ryanair customer service to explore alternative routing.
If you have flexibility, intercity rail offers a solid fallback for domestic legs: Lisbon to Porto takes under three hours by high-speed train, and Faro is reachable from Lisbon by regional rail in around three hours. For an overview of routes and alternative carriers, see our flights to Portugal guide.
We will update this article if the dispute extends beyond 6 October.