EasyJet cancel 232 flights to and from Portugal from Thursday

EasyJet has been forced to cancel 232 flights to and from Portugal this week as a cabin crew strike takes place. The flights affected on the airline are some of those which were scheduled to leave from Thursday to Saturday.

Despite the industrial action, the airline confirmed it will still run 62% of its scheduled flights during the strike from August 15 to August 17. Portuguese newspaper Lusa reported that EasyJet had 1,138 flights planned over this period.

The disruption follows a call for a three-day strike by Portugal's National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Staff (SNPVAC), affecting all easyJet flights and other services with cabin crew whose "reporting hours occur on national territory starting at 00:01 on 15 August and ending at 24:00 on 17 August".

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Easyjet has reportedly offered to reimburse passengers on cancelled flights or to rebook them on other flights. The Portuguese government has ordered airlines to maintain a minimum number of flights to the island of Madeira.

A union representing cabin crew based in Portugal announced the strike in late July. It is relating to working conditions and pay for crew.

"Working conditions never cease to worsen," Ricardo Penarroias, president of the SNPVAC union, told AFP, citing longer working hours and staff shortages. The strikers are also demanding higher bonuses."