General strike to hit ‘500 flights’ and public transport in major European country tomorrow

Portugal is set to have a nationwide strike across the transportation and airline industry (Picture: Getty Images)

Travellers be warned: Portugal is facing a nationwide strike, so prepare for delays and last-minute changes.

A wide range of sectors – from transport and education to health and public services – will be hit by the general strike called for Wednesday, 3 June.

The walkout, called by Portugal’s largest union CGTP, is expected to cause disruption across the country.

Among those walking out are rail workers, cabin crew and public transport staff, sectors that directly affect holidaymakers.

At airports across the country, strike action is predicted to affect hundreds of flights.

Ricardo Penarróias, president of a cabin crew union representing flight attendants at TAP Air Portugal, said 500 flights were at risk of being cancelled and delayed.

TAP, Portugal’s flag carrier, said that only 79 flights will operate ‘with the rest of that day’s schedule cancelled’.

Ground handling services and airport staff are among the strikers, raising the risk of delays and cancellations (Picture: Getty Images)

Air Europa has cancelled all flights between Madrid and Lisbon and Porto.

Union bosses told local media that flights with easyJet and Ryanair could also be impacted, but the Irish airline told The Independent it was not anticipating any impacts to its operation. 

The strike has been called in protest of the labour reforms which would make it easier for companies to dismiss employees and remove caps on outsourcing, according to unions.

TAP said it is rebooking travel options for affected passengers who have not yet changed their bookings.

Jet2 said it is monitoring the situation and told passengers to prepare for ‘longer than normal queues and disruption to flights.’

What will be impacted?

Ground handling services, cabin crew and airport staff will all walk out,raising the risk of delays, cancellations, and longer waiting times.

A union representing pilots will not to join the strike.

The strikes come after months of disruption due to the EU’s new EES (Entry/Exit) system, which was first introduced in October 2025, and fully rolled out on April 10.

Biometric border checks, which apply to all UK passport holders travelling through Europe, have caused long delays across the continent.

Passengers should check with their airlines regarding disruption, cancellation and compensation (Picture: Getty Images)

In April, holidaymakers were left vomiting and fainting in a queue ‘from hell’ at Milan’s Linate airport.

Around 100 easyJet customers were stranded due to delays caused by the border checks.

Yvonne Moynihan, the head of Wizz Air UK, warned passengers to arrive at airports at least three hours in advance.

Since October, almost 80 million entries and exits have been registered, with 35,000 refusals of entry recorded.

This process is set to take even longer in light of the strikes in Portugal.

What else will be effected?

A wide range of sectors – from transport to education, to health and public services – will be hit by the general strike.

As such, travellers should note that basic services and other essential care could be unavailable for the day.

Other strike action across Portugal includes public sector and social sector workers, teaching, retail, industrial workers, hospitality and The Journalists’ Union.

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