Airlines
TAP Air Portugal Pilots Start 10-Day Strike
Dispute surrounding privatization terms leads to walkout
A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320 takes off from Zurich. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by Aero Icarus)
A TAP Air Portugal Airbus A320 takes off from Zurich. (Photo: Flickr: Creative Commons (BY-SA) by Aero Icarus)

Pilots employed by TAP Air Portugal began a planned 10-day strike on Friday, severely disrupting the airline’s operations and threatening to devalue the company as the Portuguese government institute plans to privatize it. The walkout, which stems from the pilots' demands for as much as a 20-percent employee share of the company’s capital upon privatization, would last until five days before a May 15 deadline for investors to submit binding offers for the company. The airline has offered employees a 5 percent capital share in the sale, and other TAP employee unions have demonstrated against the strike. TAP Air Portugal estimates the strike could cost it €70 million if the sides don’t reach a settlement by May 10.