TAP’s CEO confirmed today the airline’s preparedness for the general strike scheduled for Thursday, aiming to conduct a third of its regular operations, with a primary focus on minimizing passenger disruptions.
Speaking to journalists, Luís Rodrigues mentioned the lack of a “finalized accounting” for the financial impact of the upcoming strike on the airline.
However, he assured that the operational plan agreed upon with unions is in place and that passengers have been pre-emptively informed to avoid unexpected situations at the airport.
“We are not worried about this. Our concern is to ensure the operation proceeds in the best way possible,” he stated, emphasizing the aim to prevent passengers from arriving at the airport only to find their flight canceled.
According to Rodrigues, customer support teams have “done a fantastic job” contacting passengers and suggesting flight rescheduling to dates before or after the strike “to minimize the impact of a strike that nobody wishes for, but is happening nonetheless.”
Rodrigues also noted that the “vast majority” of customers accepted these changes: “People want to reach their destinations. Generally, it doesn’t make much difference to them to travel a day earlier or later,” he added, referring to the option offered by the airline to reschedule flights up to three days before or after without additional costs.
On a typical operational day in this season, TAP conducts approximately 250 to 260 flights, although the exact number for December 11 is still being adjusted due to changes in minimum services and slot issues.
The general strike on December 11 has been called by CGTP and UGT in opposition to the proposed Labor Code review, marking the first joint strike by the two unions since June 2013, during Portugal’s intervention by the ‘troika’.
