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Flights to Portugal: delays, cancellations and your rights

By passengers on routes within Europe in Eurostat’s 2024 data, Portugal’s busiest airports were Lisbon, Porto and Faro, followed by Funchal on Madeira and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. TAP Air Portugal, the national airline, has its hubs in Lisbon and Porto. EU261 covers every departure from Portugal, whatever the airline, and flights to Portugal from outside the EU, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland when an airline licensed in one of those countries operates them.

By the EU261 Flight Delay editorial team Last reviewed: How we write our guides

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In short: Flying to Portugal from elsewhere in Europe, a delay of 3 hours or more is worth €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes (EU261, any airline); from the UK £220–£350 under UK261. On the way home, EU261 covers every flight leaving Portugal.

Your rights each way

DirectionRulesCovered airlines3h+ delay / late cancellation
Another EU/EEA country or Switzerland → PortugalEU261any airline€250–€400
Portugal → another EU/EEA country or SwitzerlandEU261any airline€250–€400
UK → PortugalUK261any airline£220–£350
Portugal → UKEU261any airline€250–€400
Outside Europe → PortugalEU261only an EU airlineby distance, up to €600

Amounts are per passenger and depend on the great-circle distance between your airports – the ranges cover the busiest routes. Whatever the cause, from 2 hours’ delay the airline must provide meals and drinks, and a hotel if you are stuck overnight – where EU261 or UK261 applies. Living in Portugal or flying from there? See how to claim in Portugal.

Check your flight to or from Portugal

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What happened?Step 1 of 4

What happened to your flight?
Where did you fly from and to?

With a connection, enter your first departure and your final destination – compensation is based on the total distance.

How late did you arrive at your final destination?

What counts is when the aircraft doors opened at your destination – not the departure delay.

When were you told about the cancellation?
When did you arrive on the replacement flight?
Which airline operated the flight?
When was the flight?

How many passengers were on the booking?

1 passenger

Every passenger gets their own compensation, children too. Infants under 2 without their own seat do not count.

  • Free, no sign-up
  • Fee only if successful (35%)
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Airports in Portugal

AirportPassengers 2024*ATFM delay per arrival 2025Main cause
Lisbon (LIS)26,000,5222.83 minweather (69%)
Porto (OPO)14,121,7282.45 minweather (73%)
Faro (FAO)9,137,2200.02 minweather (93%)
Madeira (FNC)4,482,6200.31 minweather (100%)
Ponta Delgada (PDL)2,226,6790.00 min–
Terceira (TER)945,310––
Horta (HOR)283,1060.00 min–
Pico Island (PIX)224,408––
Vila Baleira (PXO)202,1490.00 min–
Santa Cruz das Flores (FLW)108,8930.00 min–
Vila do Porto (SMA)107,6770.00 min–
Velas (SJZ)107,320––
Santa Cruz da Graciosa (GRW)61,194––
Cascais (CAT)–0.00 minairspace management (100%)

* Passengers on routes reported to Eurostat (both directions).

Routes from the UK to Portugal

From the UK: in the CAA’s 2025 data the busiest Portuguese destinations from UK airports were Faro (for the Algarve), Lisbon and Porto, followed by Funchal on Madeira and Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Flights departing from Portugal are covered by EU261 whatever the airline; flights from the UK to Portugal by UK261; flights from Portugal to the UK by EU261.

Punctuality of the busiest routes in 2025, from UK Civil Aviation Authority data (departures from UK airports).

RouteFlightsOn time3h+ lateCancelled
London Heathrow – Lisbon7,54063.0%0.29%1.10%
London Gatwick – Faro5,08771.1%0.47%0.61%
London Gatwick – Lisbon3,19659.0%1.00%2.47%
London Gatwick – Porto3,04368.6%0.62%1.36%
Manchester – Faro2,72268.3%0.55%0.58%
London Stansted – Faro2,43074.5%0.41%0.21%
Manchester – Lisbon2,40050.9%1.03%1.40%
London Stansted – Lisbon2,32965.7%0.47%0.38%
Bristol – Faro2,32680.7%0.38%0.77%
London Luton – Faro2,25372.5%0.13%0.35%
London Stansted – Porto2,12969.8%0.19%0.28%
London Gatwick – Madeira1,95376.2%0.86%1.61%
Birmingham – Faro1,75476.3%0.23%0.23%
London Luton – Lisbon1,74957.5%0.17%0.51%
Belfast International – Faro1,56986.0%0.44%0.38%
Liverpool John Lennon – Faro1,47888.5%0.54%0.40%
East Midlands – Faro1,31185.7%0.23%0.23%
Leeds Bradford – Faro1,26575.8%0.79%0.47%
London Heathrow – Faro1,01680.1%0.00%0.39%

Busiest European routes

Why flights to Portugal are delayed

In 2025, air traffic flow restrictions held back arrivals at Portugal’s airports by 1.88 minutes per flight on average (EUROCONTROL, 10 airports). The worst month was Mar. Air traffic control strikes affected arrivals on 2 days since 2024, most recently 3 June 2026.

Causes of air traffic flow delay (2025)

  • weather70%
  • aerodrome capacity23%
  • equipment (ATC)3%
  • ATC staffing1%
  • other1%
  • ATC capacity0%

Average ATFM delay per arrival by month (min)

  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Weather and air traffic control restrictions are usually extraordinary circumstances – but the airline must show they caused your delay. Check what happened on your travel day.

Strikes

  • 2026-12-19–2026-12-23: easyJet cabin crew based in Portugal (SNPVAC) – Lisbon, Porto, Faro (announced)

Air transport and airports are essential services under Portuguese labour law. Unions must give 10 working days’ notice (instead of the usual 5), filed with DGERT, so strikes affecting flights are usually public two weeks or more ahead. A minimum service must be maintained, agreed between union and employer or, failing that, set by the authorities or an arbitration panel; it protects essential connections, not every holiday flight. Most Portuguese flight strikes are by airline crews, which usually means compensation is due.

Strikes in Portugal · Strike calendar

Where to complain

  1. The airline first – in writing, with your booking reference. Use our complaint letter generator.
  2. National enforcement body: Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC) – ANAC supervises airlines but does not decide individual compensation or refunds; it points passengers to ADR and the European Consumer Centre. A complaint to ANAC can be made up to 3 years from the date of the flight..
  3. Dispute resolution: Consumer dispute arbitration centres (for example the Lisbon centre, CACCL, and the national centre, CNIACC). Under the Consumer Protection Law (Law 24/96, art. 14(2)), low-value consumer disputes go to arbitration if the consumer chooses it, so the airline cannot refuse, and the result is a binding arbitral award. The Lisbon centre publishes EU261 awards against airlines.
  4. From the UK: if you flew from a UK airport or with a UK airline, you can also use UK ADR, the CAA or the small claims court.

Tips for flying to Portugal

  • Madeira and the Azores are outermost regions of the EU, so flights from Funchal, Porto Santo or Ponta Delgada are covered by EU261 just like flights from Lisbon.
  • Strikes by an airline’s own Portugal-based cabin crew (such as easyJet’s crew strike of 2–6 October 2026) are not extraordinary circumstances: if your flight is cancelled at short notice or arrives 3+ hours late, compensation is usually due.
  • In EUROCONTROL’s 2025 data Lisbon and Porto had Portugal’s highest average arrival flow-control delays, mostly weather-related, while Faro had almost none.
  • Flights between Portugal and the UK or Ireland cross French-controlled airspace, so French air traffic control strikes can disrupt them too.

Frequently asked questions

Am I covered on a flight to Portugal?

From anywhere in the EU, the EEA or Switzerland, yes: EU261 covers every departing flight, whatever the airline – €250–€400 per passenger on typical routes if you arrive 3 hours or more late. From the UK, UK261 covers every departing flight (£220–£350). From outside Europe you are covered only on an EU airline.

Am I covered on the flight home from Portugal?

Portugal applies EU261 to every departing flight, so you are covered with any airline (€250–€400 on typical routes).

Who enforces passenger rights in Portugal?

Autoridade Nacional da Aviação Civil (ANAC) – ANAC supervises airlines but does not decide individual compensation or refunds; it points passengers to ADR and the European Consumer Centre. A complaint to ANAC can be made up to 3 years from the date of the flight.. Complain to the airline first; if it rejects you or does not answer, you can turn to this body. All national enforcement bodies.

Are strikes covered?

It depends whose staff are on strike. Air traffic control or airport strikes are usually extraordinary circumstances; strikes by the airline’s own staff are not (CJEU C-28/20). See strikes and compensation.

Data: Eurostat 2024, EUROCONTROL, UK Civil Aviation Authority 2025. Information only, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. National enforcement bodies under Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 (updated 13 October 2026) – European Commission
  2. Como apresentar uma reclamação – ANAC
  3. Reclamar em caso de recusa, cancelamento ou atraso no voo – gov.pt (Portuguese government)
  4. Centro de Arbitragem de Conflitos de Consumo de Lisboa – CACCL
  5. Sentença 107/2025 (air transport, EU261) – citing art. 14(2) Lei 24/96 – CACCL
  6. Strike notices (avisos prévios de greve) – DGERT
  7. Tripulantes da easyJet em greve de 2 a 6 de outubro e de 19 a 23 de dezembro (17 September 2026) – RTP / Lusa
  8. Greve na easyJet com total adesão e cancelamentos podem chegar a 90% (3 October 2026) – DNoticias
  9. Judgment C-28/20 Airhelp v SAS (23 March 2021) – strikes by the airline’s own staff – Court of Justice of the EU
  10. Ryanair cancels 170 flights due to French ATC strike (3 July 2025) – Ryanair Holdings (SEC filing)
  11. Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, Article 349 (outermost regions: Canary Islands, Azores, Madeira, French overseas regions) – EUR-Lex
  12. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 – full text (Article 3: scope; recital 15: air traffic management decisions) – EUR-Lex
  13. Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 as it applies in the UK (UK261) – Article 3, scope – legislation.gov.uk
  14. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 (flights by destination from UK airports) – UK Civil Aviation Authority
  15. Airport arrival ATFM (flow-control) delay data, 2024–2025 – EUROCONTROL Aviation Intelligence Unit
  16. Air passenger transport by reporting airport (avia_par), 2024 – Eurostat
  17. Eurostat – air passenger transport routes between partner airports and main airports (2024) – Eurostat
  18. EUROCONTROL – airport arrival ATFM delays (open performance data) – EUROCONTROL
  19. UK flight punctuality statistics 2025 – UK Civil Aviation Authority

We check every rule against the sources above. Spotted an error? Tell us – see our editorial policy.