Ryanair does not expect "significant disruption" as a result of the strike called by the National Civil Aviation Flight Personnel Union (SNPVAC), but has revealed that it can’t "rule out some delays" or changes in flights.
In response to questions posed by Lusa, the low-cost airline stressed, in a written statement, that there will be no "significant disruption" to its operations in Portugal between Wednesday and Sunday. The airline expressed that they consider the strike to be "unjustified ", however they warned of possible "delays" or "changes in flights".
"We will do everything we can to minimize the disruption to our customers and their families," said the Irish airline. "Passengers who have not received an email or message can expect their flights to and from Portugal to take place normally this week," the airline said.
Ryanair also thanked "most of the Portuguese crew, who have confirmed that they will work normally between Wednesday, August 21st and Sunday, August 25th."
At the same time, the airline apologized to passengers "for any anxiety or inconvenience caused by this unnecessary strike being carried out by a small minority of our Portuguese crews".
Still, Ryanair says it is open to "talking with SNPVAC to reach an agreement" and calls for a "return to negotiations as soon as possible".
On Monday, the Government decreed that minimum services will be fulfilled during the strike, covering not only the Azores and Madeira, but also the European cities of Berlin, Cologne, London, and Paris.
Thus, the minimum services include flights between Lisbon and Paris; between Lisbon and Berlin; between Porto and Cologne; between Lisbon and London; between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada, as well as a round trip connection between Lisbon and Terceira Island (Lajes) on the 21st, 23rd and 25th of August.
SNPVAC revealed in a statement yesterday that they "vehemently reject another attempt by the Government to annihilate the Portuguese crewmembers’ right to strike and, in particular, of Ryanair's crew", highlighting that it does not accept "defending the economic interests of a private and foreign company to the detriment of the rights of Portuguese workers ".
The basis of this strike is, according to SNPVAC in a statement on the 1st August, that Ryanair continues to "fail to comply with the rules imposed by Portuguese law, in particular regarding the payment of holidays, the number of days off and the integration of cabin crew hired through Crewlink and Workforce agencies.”
Moreover, unions in Ireland, Britain, and Spain have also announced plans to strike in the coming weeks, a year after a wave of strikes over pay and conditions forced Europe’s largest budget carrier to cancel hundreds of flights.
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