However, compared to the first quarter of 2023, it can be concluded that the process in these first months of the year went through fewer problems. In the year to March, 500 flights were cancelled, 1.2% of the total, compared to 800 canceled flights the previous year (1.8% of the total). The number of affected passengers has decreased by almost half (two million in 2023) and, accordingly, the number of those eligible for compensation this year has also decreased: 110,000 are eligible for 44 million euros in 2023.
The decrease in the number of strikes in the aviation sector, with the consequent decrease in their effects in the country, is one of the arguments presented for this scenario for improvement by the company working on passenger rights. “This year we have seen fewer strikes by air traffic control workers, and Germany was one of the countries most affected. “The trend seems to be better for Portuguese air travelers,” explains Pedro Miguel Madaleno, a lawyer specializing in air passenger rights and AirHelp representative in Portugal. “Strikes, protests and technical problems were factors that negatively affected air traffic last year. In particular, some labor disputes had a significant impact on many flights, causing flight delays and other flight cancellations. “This year, the situation seems more stable,” says the expert.
Analyzing the European spectrum, Portugal remains one of the countries with the highest percentage of flight disruptions operating at its airports (29%), trailing only Finland (30%). The Netherlands ranks third, with about 28% of passengers affected.
