Consumers association slams Portugal airline's decision on reimbursement

Flag carrier airline TAP has been slammed by Portugal's Consumers' Association (DECO) for its decision not to reimburse passengers affected by an upcoming pilots' strike.

"TAP has proposed to clients an alteration of the date of the journey or the issuance of a voucher to spend on another trip. This position is not legally acceptable," read the statement on the association's official website, released on Wednesday.

"To alter the date or to issue a voucher, there has to be an agreement between both parts. The consumer has to accept those alternatives," the statement adds.

On Monday, the airline's CEO Fernando Pinto warned that the strike would cost the company "a million euros per day in cancellations of reservations."

The strike is to be staged by TAP pilots from May 1 to 10 over their demand for a stake of up to 20 percent in the company when it is privatized.

Portuguese flag carrier TAP saw losses amounting to 85.1 million euros (95.2 million U.S. dollars) last year, and is being privatized under a program taken on by the center-right ruling government to reduce the country's debt load.

The government objected to the strike, with Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho pointing out that it would put the company at risk.

Tourism of Portugal said the planned strike was "disrespectful" to the sector. Endit