TAP Air Portugal strike on Thursday, 11 December
Minimal operations and many flights cancelled
On 11 December 2025, Portugal will be heavily affected by a nationwide strike that impacts several sectors, including aviation. As a result, TAP Air Portugal has announced that only minimum services will be operated that day.
Many flights are being cancelled proactively, while others will run on a significantly reduced schedule.
But what does the strike in Portugal mean for your rights as an air passenger?
Why is TAP Air Portugal striking?
The strike on 11 December has been called by the unions CGTP and UGT, in protest against the Portuguese government’s new labour law proposal. It’s the first time since 2013 that these unions unite, which makes the impact substantial.
Several aviation-related unions are joining the action. The Portuguese pilots’ union SPAC has also committed to respecting the agreed minimum service levels. And since TAP Air Portugal is a Portuguese airline…
Do you qualify for compensation during the strike in Portugal?
Because the strike on 11 December is carried out by TAP’s own employees—such as cabin crew, maintenance teams and possibly pilots, you are entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled.
Under European law and case rulings, an internal strike within an airline is not considered an extraordinary circumstance. The airline has influence over its employment relations and internal operations. That means passengers are entitled to:
- compensation when a flight is cancelled, or
- compensation when the delay exceeds three hours
The amount is €250, €400 or €600 per person, depending on the flight distance.
Right to rebooking or refund
If your flight is cancelled, you may always choose between:
- a full refund of your ticket, or
- rebooking onto another flight
Right to care during the TAP Air Portugal strike
If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than two hours, you are always entitled to care. This means TAP must provide:
- meals and drinks
- hotel accommodation if necessary
- transportation between the airport and the hotel
If TAP does not offer these services, you may arrange them yourself and claim the costs back from the airline, be sure to keep all receipts.
Is TAP refusing to cooperate? EUclaim can claim these expenses for you.
Written by Jerrymie
Jerrymie Marcus got in touch with EUclaim due to a 4-hour delay. Through EUclaim, the marketing specialist received €600 in compensation.
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