According to the union, another motive for the strike is what it said is a "continuation of the recording of coercion and persecution of crew, namely those who took part in the last strike period."

Ryanair cabin crew had already struck for five days from 21 to 25 August, in an action called by the same union.

For that period, the government ordered that minimum services be assured, covering not only flights to and from the Azores and Madeira, but also several European cities: Berlin, Cologne, London and Paris.

Throughout last month's strike, SNVPAC officials allege, the company replaced striking crew with employees based in other countries. The union said it reported these situations to the labour inspectorate, the ACT, and to the Directorate-General of Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT).

The ACT carried out inspections at Lisbon, Porto and Faro airports in the wake of the union's denunciations.

The strikes have been called, according to the SNPVAC, because Ryanair continues to “fail to observe rules imposed by Portuguese legislation, namely in respect of the payment of holiday and Christmas bonuses, the number of days off and the integration as staff of cabin crew hired via the agencies Crewlink and Workforce.”

In Portugal, the company has flights to and from Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Ponta Delgada.