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Spanish air traffic strikes begin
Spanish air traffic controllers have begun a series of eight strikes threatening to disrupt holiday passengers.
The strikes started yesterday between 10am and noon and 6pm and 8pm, with similar patterns for Wednesday, Friday and Sunday this week.
Easyjet recommended that customers check the status of their flight on the above days before going to the airport.
It said: "At this stage easyJet plans to operate its full schedule, however, like other airlines, some flights operated during these periods might be delayed."
Ryanair also said that its operations were currently running as normal but advised customers travelling to and from Spain to check their flight status before travelling.
Tourist chiefs in Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands have reserved 1,300 beds for holidaymakers whose flights could face cancellation, reports the Daily Mail.
Spanish law ‘bans’ air traffic controllers from having fewer than 70% of staff at their stations during a strike, for safety and national security – but it is thought some may stay off work regardless.
The strikes are a protest against a decision to sanction 61 air traffic controllers for shutting down Barcelona’s airspace in 2010.
Union bosses are also trying to overturn the 70% minimum operational service requirement fixed by the government during the strike action.
The walkouts, originally scheduled for March, were postponed after the Germanwings air crash which killed 150 people including suicide pilot Andreas Lubitz.
At the same time Ryanair passengers to Madrid are still being forced to travel with cabin baggage only as CTA union members strike at the airport.
Ryanair said: "We will continue to operate all flights to and from Madrid throughout this illegal strike action by CTA union members at Madrid Airport, which is in breach of the minimum services agreed by the Ministry de Fomento, and these attempts to further disrupt Ryanair’s operations at Madrid have now been referred to the Labour Court in Spain.
"Customers travelling to / from Madrid are requested to travel with cabin baggage only and have been offered the choice of transferring to alternative flights or alternative airports."
Diane
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