easyJet Cabin-Crew Strike 2–6 October: Flights, Minimum Services and Your Rights

easyJet cabin crew in Portugal are set to strike from Friday 2 October to Tuesday 6 October 2026. The airline has said about 500 flights from its Lisbon, Porto and Faro bases could be affected. Minimum services were published on 29 September. If you fly easyJet that week — to visit family, return from leave, or travel for work — check your booking now and know your rights.

What is happening

The National Civil Aviation Flight Personnel Union (SNPVAC) called the stoppage after cabin crew approved industrial action. The same union also scheduled a second strike window for 19–23 December 2026 (Christmas travel). Union members cite unstable rosters, unequal treatment compared with pilots under the company agreement, and pressure to work overtime for commercial reasons.

On 29 September, Lusa reported that the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT) had published a minimum-services order covering both October and December. The same brief appears on ECO and RTP Madeira.

Minimum services (October 2–6)

According to that DGERT order as reported by Lusa, some rotations must still operate. Examples for 2–6 October include:

Lisbon–Funchal–Lisbon: two daily rotations (10 in total over the five days)
Porto–Funchal–Porto: one daily rotation (five in total)
Porto–Porto Santo–Porto: on 4 and 6 October only
Selected European routes from Lisbon, Porto and Faro (including Geneva, Basel, Zurich, Nantes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Paris Orly, London and Luxembourg) with limited daily rotations

Minimum services do not mean your flight is safe. Many other easyJet flights can still be cancelled or delayed. Always trust the status of your booking from the airline app, email or SMS.

What this means for you

Do not cancel first. An announced strike is not the same as a cancelled flight. If you drop the trip yourself while the flight is still scheduled, refund rules follow your fare — which may be non-refundable.
If easyJet cancels, under EU Regulation 261/2004 you can usually choose refund, re-routing on the next available comparable flight, or travel on a later date (subject to seats).
Care while you wait: meals/drinks for the wait, two phone calls or electronic messages, and hotel plus transfers if you must stay overnight.
Compensation: EU guidance treats a strike by the airline’s own staff as generally not an “extraordinary circumstance”, so financial compensation may still apply — but timing of the cancellation notice and the alternative offered matter. Amounts are typically €250 / €400 / €600 by distance. Keep every message and boarding pass.
Friday 2 October is also a public-sector strike day in Portugal (schools and many counters). Plan airport transfers and any same-day appointments separately — we already covered that strike.

What to do this week

Open your booking in the easyJet app or website and turn on flight alerts.
Screenshot or save the confirmation email, any cancellation SMS/email, and receipts for food, hotel or taxis if you pay yourself.
If cancelled and you still need to travel, reply clearly that you want re-routing, not only a refund.
Claim with easyJet first. If there is no answer within six weeks, or the answer is unsatisfactory, you can escalate to Portugal’s civil aviation authority, ANAC.

Key dates

2–6 October 2026 — cabin-crew strike (Lisbon, Porto, Faro bases; ~500 flights at risk)
29 September 2026 — DGERT minimum-services order reported
19–23 December 2026 — second strike window (Christmas travel; also with minimum services)

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and flight status change quickly; check easyJet and ANAC before you act. Last updated: 30 September 2026.

Featured image: Branded graphic: Link in Portugal (no third-party news photos)