A nationwide strike in Portugal has led to the cancellation of nearly half of all scheduled flights, causing significant disruption for UK tourists. According to Portuguese officials, 658 out of 1,472 flights were cancelled on Wednesday, June 3, representing 44.7% of the total.
The strike has hit popular holiday destinations hard. In Faro and Porto, nearly a third of flights were cancelled, while Lisbon Airport saw 408 cancellations, 62% of its scheduled flights. Madeira also experienced 23% cancellations, with most flights reportedly cancelled in advance to allow for passenger notification and rescheduling.
EasyJet warned passengers in advance, stating: 'Due to a national strike in Portugal on 3 June, like all airlines operating to and from the country we can expect some disruption to our flying programme.' The airline said it would contact affected customers directly. Ryanair, however, said it would not be affected.
The strike, called by multiple trade unions, is the second in six months and protests proposed labour reforms that would make it easier for companies to dismiss employees and outsource services. The industrial action also affected public transport and other services across the country.
