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A recent strike in Portugal, earlier this week by air traffic controllers has resulted in flight cancellation for a number of airlines. According to reports, Portuguese air traffic control operated minimal services during the course of action that resulted in delays, disruptions and cancellations in the busy pre-holiday season flights to and from Portugal. This is the first strike in more than three years of Portugal history and is part of a general strike in the country, in protest against the government’s strict measures.

The Portuguese flagship carrier TAP stated that it will cancel ‘most’ flights in Portugal and Europe however intercontinental services will be operated with minute schedules changes.

The large number of European airlines affected by this action includes British Airways that cancelled all its flights to Lisbon on November 24.

Another European low-cost airline, Ryanair also cancelled its evening flight from Stansted to Porto (FR8347), on November 23.  The Irish based carrier seems to be the worst effected due to having to cancel more than expected flights. Overall, in the year 2010, strikes in Belgium, France and Spain (nearly throughout Europe) resulted in cancellation of more than 2,000 flights with Ryanair, as well as delay over 12,000.

It is said to be more than 50 flights to and from Portugal, on a single day, affected by Air traffic controls strike on November 24. Passengers booked on the ‘cancelled’ flights are able to rebook or get a refund by calling the airline.

Spokesman Stephen McNamara says that this event marks the second failure by the European government to keep skies open. The first was the Icelandic volcano ash cloud incident, which closed airspace throughout most of northern Europe.