With the busiest holiday weekend since Christmas filling the skies, passengers bound to and from Portugal are in for a bumpy ride this Easter.
Ryanair cabin crew have already begun their strike (click here) – news early this morning is that four flights out of Porto have been cancelled while others, both in and out, are facing prolonged delays – while TAP pilots are waging a battle of their own which has already seen 50 flights cancelled in Lisbon alone.
The TAP action follows management’s refusal to increase salaries to the level demanded. (Claiming they are underpaid compared to other airlines, pilots want a 42% salary increase. TAP has offered only 3%.)
The resulting ‘work-to-rule’ in which pilots will be ‘rigorously applying the law, taking the stipulated rest periods, holiday breaks and days off – has seen 50 flights cancelled since last Saturday and promises to provoke “chaos” over the holidays that began in earnest this morning.
Say reports, passenger fury and frustration is now being vented over social media.
TAP, very much like Ryanair, is attempting contingency plans by hiring replacement pilots/ cabin crew where possible – but the outlook is not good.
Ryanair’s strike has the support of well over 90% of its staff, and TAP pilots are bullish.
Consumer advice watchdog DECO is advising flyers to do one of two things: either re-book their trip or put in a claim to get their money back. Neither option will get them from A to B with any kind of speed.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
