Your Easter holiday to Portugal could be cancelled due to fuel shortages - here's everything you need to know

British tourists planning to head to Portugal for their Easter break could find their flights cancelled or diverted due to fuel shortages at local airports.

Strike action by truck drivers in Portugal means that supplies are running low, and planes run by easyJet and Ryanair have already had to land at a different airport or make an unschedule stopover.

Workers striking for better rights

The strike, which sees the workers demanding better rights, started on Monday. However truck drivers are still guaranteeing minimum services.

Major airports have been affected, with Faro - a major tourist hub - using emergency reserves. Lisbon airport is also facing shortages.

The Sun reported that Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira told reporters, "At both airports, where fuel supply wasn't ensured, we have reached critical levels of fuel reserves for aircraft refuelling."

More flights could be cancelled in the near future

Only one flight has been cancelled so far, but the minister has said that more flights could be affected if the problem persists.

One plane was forced to make an unplanned stop in Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain to refuel before heading to Lisbon.

Portugese airport authority ANA has told all passengers flying to Faro or Lisbon to check the status of their flight.

The UK Foreign Office has warned, "Strike action by Portugese fuel tanker drivers since 16 April may cause disruption to flights at Lisbon and Faro airports.

"If you’re travelling from Lisbon or Faro airport over the coming days, check with your airline for possible delays. Travel within Portugal may also be affected by the strike."

Plans to send emergency tankers to airports

The Portugese government has said that fire stations, ports and public transport companies were also affected by the striking.

It is planning to send dozens of tankers to Lisbon airport to refuel the capital’s planes.

The National Union of Dangerous Goods Drivers said the strike will continue until their demands are met.

An Easyjet spokesperson told The Sun, "Due to strike action in Portugal affecting fuel availability easyJet, like all airlines, is experiencing some disruption to its flying programme today and four flights between the UK and Portugal will be required to make fuel stops on route.

"We advise all customers due to travel to or from Portugal to check the status of their flights on our Flight Tracker for the latest information."

Striking to cause disruption in Spain as well

Airports in Spain are also facing problems, in this case due to indefinite stirking by ground handling staff.

More than 60,000 ground handling staff are expected to walk out, affecting airports, while train staff are also going on strike.