Global Airport News

A strike by air traffic controllers in Portugal has forced a number of airlines to cancel flights today.

Portuguese air traffic control will be operating only a minimal service for 24 hours as of 10pm yesterday evening.

The Portuguese flag carrier TAP said in a statement on its website that it will cancel “most” flights in Portugal and Europe.

The carrier plans to operate as many of its intercontinental services as possible, but schedules may change.

British Airways has cancelled all its flights to Lisbon today, and brought forward last nights flight (BA 504) by 30 minutes.

Ryanair cancelled last nights flight from Stansted to Porto (FR8347), as well as some 50 flights to and from Portugal today.

The walk-out of air traffic controllers is part of a general strike in the country, in protest against the government’s austerity measures.

It is the first strike in Portugal in more than three years.

Airlines were forced to cancel flights earlier this year due to strikes in Belgium, France and Spain.