EasyJet passengers flying to or from Portugal have two strike windows to worry about. Cabin crew based in the country, represented by the SNPVAC union, have voted to walk out from 2 to 6 October and again from 19 to 23 December. The October stoppage alone is expected to ground around 500 scheduled flights at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports, and that figure does not factor in any minimum service levels the government may impose.

The December dates are the ones most holidaymakers will be watching. They fall squarely in the Christmas travel rush, when planes are fuller and rebooking options are scarcer, so the disruption could be wider than the October action even if fewer flights are affected.

The union says conditions for EasyJet's Portuguese crew have kept getting worse despite repeated warnings. Its complaints include unstable rosters, breaches of the company agreement, what it calls discriminatory treatment compared with pilots, operational planning failures, and pressure to take on overtime to plug staff shortages. EasyJet, which has been in talks moderated by Portugal's labour authority DGERT, says it is extremely disappointed by the strike plans and describes the union's demands as unworkable, arguing its crew are paid well above the Portuguese national average. The airline says it will do everything it can to limit disruption.

If you have an EasyJet flight booked through Lisbon, Porto or Faro around either strike window, it's worth keeping an eye on your booking. Under EU261 rules, passengers on cancelled flights within or from the EU are generally entitled to a choice of refund or rebooking, plus care and assistance at the airport; compensation may apply unless the airline can cite extraordinary circumstances, and labour disputes can be a grey area. Travelling with hand luggage only and having a flexible return date will make rebooking easier if your flight is pulled. Because the December strike lands on peak dates, alternative flights will fill fast — if your plans are movable, shifting away from 19 to 23 December is the safest bet.