On Wednesday at a demonstration by workers from both companies beside Lisbon airport, union leader Fernando Henriques said: “On the 19th [of May] we are going to protest in front of the government’s gates and not let them play dead” in this collective lay-off process of the workers who are responsible for the aircraft support services.

Portway announced in Marc hit was going to lay-off 257 workers after its contract with Ryanair was cancelled in Faro, Lisbon and Oporto.

On 27 April, the Chairman of Portway said the ground handling company hoped to rehire the workers affected by the lay-off within four or five years when the current levels of activity were recovered.