General strike 3 June 2026: What to do if you're flying with TAP Air Portugal and others

If you’re flying to or from Portugal on 3 June 2026, you could be facing some serious disruption. A 24-hour nationwide general strike is expected to cancel more than 500 flights across the country — and if your flight is canceled or delayed by 3 or more hours as a result, you may be entitled to up to €600 in compensation. Here’s everything you need to know.

Portugal is bracing for its most significant transport shutdown since the 2024 general strike. The walkout has been called by CGTP, Portugal’s largest trade union confederation, after 9 months of failed talks with the government over its labour-reform package, known as Trabalho XXI. Unions have condemned the proposals as an unprecedented assault on workers’ established rights.

The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (SNPVAC), which represents more than 5,000 cabin crew working across TAP Air Portugal, Portugália, SATA, Ryanair, and easyJet, has voted to join the action. 79% of members approved participation. Transport union FECTRANS is also taking part, extending disruption beyond aviation into rail, metro, bus, and ferry services across Portugal.

There is little sign of a last-minute resolution. Union leaders say the strike will go ahead unless the Trabalho XXI reform bill is withdrawn or substantially amended — and that appears unlikely now that the draft legislation has already reached Parliament.

The strike involves both cabin crew and airport personnel, so disruption is expected across Portugal’s entire airport network. The airports expected to be hit hardest are:

• Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS)

• Porto Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport (OPO)

• Faro Airport (FAO)

• Funchal Airport (FNC)

• Ponta Delgada Airport (PDL)

TAP Air Portugal is expected to be worst affected, with the airline potentially cancelling up to 300 services — roughly a third of its daily schedule. Domestic mainland routes appear most exposed. Ryanair has said it expects to operate normally, and easyJet is also hoping to run near-normal schedules, though both warn that ground-handling delays are still possible. Iberia and Air Europa are expected to cut a significant share of their Portugal flights.

Minimum-service rules mean that 100% of mainland flights to Madeira and the Azores are protected, along with at least 35% of international services.

Yes, and it’s worth planning ahead even if your flight is on 2 or 4 June. Airlines are already warning that schedules on the days either side of the strike may also be affected, as aircraft are moved out of Portugal in advance and crews and equipment take time to return to normal positions. A similar nationwide strike in December 2025 canceled around 400 flights, which gives a sense of the ripple effect.

Yes. A cabin crew strike is not classed as extraordinary circumstances under EU air passenger rights regulation EC 261 — which means that airlines are responsible for the disruption, and you could be owed up to €600 in compensation.

You may be eligible if:

• Your flight is canceled less than 14 days before departure

• Your flight arrives at your destination 3 or more hours late

• Your flight departed from an EU airport, or was operated by an EU airline flying into the EU

The amount depends on the distance of your flight:

• €250 — flights up to 1,500 km

• €400 — flights between 1,500 km and 3,500 km

• €600 — flights over 3,500 km

If your flight is canceled, you’re entitled to either a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination as soon as possible. If you end up stuck overnight, your airline should provide hotel accommodation and transfers. You’re also entitled to meals and refreshments while you wait, and 2 phone calls or emails to stay in contact.

On top of that, you may be entitled to monetary compensation under EC 261 — see the amounts above. If TAP or any airline offers you a voucher instead of cash, you don’t have to accept it. You have the right to cash.

Getting to the airport on 3 June may be harder than usual. Metro, bus, ferry, and rail services across Portugal are also affected by the strike, so allow extra travel time and consider arranging private transport if you can.

If your flight is disrupted:

• Keep your boarding pass and all travel documentation

• Note the exact arrival time of your flight

• Save any emails or notifications from your airline

• Take a photo of the departures board

• Keep receipts for any extra expenses, like food and drink while you wait

You have up to 3 years to make a claim — but the sooner you start, the better. AirHelp can check your eligibility in seconds. If you’re owed money, we’ll handle the claim on your behalf. And you only pay a fee if we win.