Portugal strike: Major transport disruption to hit with TAP Air cancelling dozens of flights and train services axed
Travel chaos is set to hit Portugal on Thursday 11 December due to a general strike.
Portugal is preparing for a day of major transport disruption as a general strike is scheduled for Thursday. The movement is organized by the two major trade union confederations, CGTP and UGT, in protest against the government’s proposed labor law reform.
Trains and flights will be affected. Rail operator CP – Comboios de Portugal has announced in advance “significant disruptions” on all services, including Alfa Pendular, Intercidades, InterRegional, and Regional.
According to the company, Friday (December 12) may see side effects of the protest, with cancellations and delays. For passengers who have tickets for affected trains, CP allows full refunds or free exchanges for tickets for another journey in the same category.
Requests can be made online, through the CP app, or at ticket offices, including up to 10 days after the strike ends. The national carrier TAP Air Portugal has already canceled dozens of flights and will only operate the minimum services required by law.
The company said that “it will be very difficult to maintain the normal flight schedule,” according to the SNPVAC union, which represents more than 5,000 crew members of TAP, easyJet, Ryanair, and Azores Airlines. In the Azores archipelago, operators SATA and Azores Airlines intend to provide only a few essential connections, with the support of the handling company SPdH.
According to European Regulation 261/2004, passengers affected by flight cancellations or delays are entitled to refunds or rebooking, as well as assistance (meals, accommodation) depending on the length of the delay. The compensation situation varies depending on the nature of the strike (airline staff vs. airport staff).
The protest comes amid union opposition to legislative changes that would expand the list of services required to operate during strikes, extend the duration of fixed-term contracts, and facilitate layoffs. The leaders of the two trade union confederations described the situation as “very serious,” stressing that the decision to call the strike was taken after negotiations with the government broke down.