Manchester Airport easyJet Flights Hit by Portugal Cabin-Crew Strike
Source-checked update: This article brings together information checked against primary sources and independent reporting available at publication time. Full source links are listed at the end of the article.
easyJet has cancelled two return flights between Manchester Airport and Portugal amid industrial action by Portugal-based cabin crew. The strike is scheduled across October 2-6, 2026, and the airline has contacted passengers affected by the Manchester cancellations with options to rebook or request a refund.
The disruption is current as of October 3. Travelers booked to fly between Manchester and Portugal during the affected period should check their flight status directly with easyJet before setting out for the airport.
What Happened
Portugal-based easyJet cabin crew were scheduled to take industrial action on October 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Independent reporting has confirmed that the action began on October 2 and caused substantial easyJet cancellations from Lisbon, Porto and Faro.
The Manchester Evening News reported that two easyJet return flights between Manchester and Portugal were cancelled because of the industrial action. Affected customers were contacted directly and offered either rebooking or a refund.
The specific Manchester cancellations are linked to the Portugal-based cabin-crew action. Manchester Airport has also issued a separate warning about a small number of cancellations and delays connected with Middle East airspace closures. That notice does not attribute the Manchester easyJet cancellations to the airspace issue, so travelers should check the reason for any change affecting their own booking rather than assume all disruption has the same cause.
The Portugal cabin-crew action is scheduled to continue through October 6. Reports have cited different estimates for the wider number of potentially affected flights, but those figures do not change the confirmed report of two cancelled Manchester-Portugal return flights.
What This Means for Travelers
The immediate impact is for easyJet passengers traveling between Manchester and Portugal, particularly those whose flights fall within the October 2-6 industrial-action period. Not every flight on the route has been confirmed as cancelled, so travelers should not assume their service will be disrupted solely because the strike is taking place.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled should have been contacted by easyJet. The airline has offered affected customers the choice of rebooking or a refund. Travelers should review the message linked to their booking carefully and confirm which option applies before making separate arrangements.
Those who have not received a notification should still check their booking directly with easyJet. Airport departure information can also help identify changes, but the airline remains the most relevant source for booking-specific information and available alternatives.
Travelers connecting through Portugal should take particular care when checking their itinerary. The verified disruption concerns Portugal-based easyJet cabin crew and has affected operations from Lisbon, Porto and Faro, but the evidence does not establish that every connection or every airport service will be impacted.
Separate disruption linked to Middle East airspace closures may also affect a small number of services at Manchester Airport. This is a distinct issue from the Portugal cabin-crew action and may apply to different flights or airlines.
What Travelers Should Do Now
Check your easyJet booking and flight status directly before traveling to Manchester Airport. If your service has changed, follow the airline’s instructions on rebooking or refunds rather than going to the airport without confirming the latest position.
If easyJet has contacted you, keep the message available and review the proposed alternatives. Passengers who need to choose between rebooking and a refund should make that decision through the airline’s official booking or customer-service channels.
Allow additional time for checking departure information if you are traveling during the October 2-6 period, particularly if your itinerary includes Portugal. Check both the airline and Manchester Airport for updates, while remembering that airport-wide notices may relate to separate disruption.
If you are traveling as part of a wider itinerary, confirm each flight segment individually. A change to one easyJet service does not by itself confirm that other flights in the same journey have been cancelled.
What Is Confirmed
Portugal-based easyJet cabin crew were scheduled to take industrial action on October 2-6, 2026.
The action began on October 2 and caused substantial easyJet cancellations from Lisbon, Porto and Faro.
Two easyJet return flights between Manchester Airport and Portugal were cancelled because of the industrial action, and affected passengers were contacted and offered rebooking or refunds.
Manchester Airport has separately warned of a small number of cancellations and delays linked to Middle East airspace closures; that issue is not identified as the cause of the Manchester easyJet cancellations.
Sources
Primary sources
Independent reporting
- Manchester Airport flights cancelled amid strike chaos, airline confirms
- EasyJet cabin crew strike disrupts hundreds of flights in Portugal
- EasyJet Cabin Crew Strike Runs Until 6 October: Passenger Rights
Editorial note
This Travel News article was prepared by the VibrantGateways Team using publicly available information and primary sources where available. AI-assisted tools may be used during research and drafting, with publication subject to our editorial verification process.
Links identified as “Optional source” are provided for additional context only. They have not been independently verified by the VibrantGateways editorial team, and VibrantGateways is not responsible for their accuracy, completeness, availability, or subsequent changes.
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