Over 1,200 flights to be cancelled due to Iberia strikes
Over 1,200 flights will be cancelled from next Monday (18th February 2013) due to the strikes called by Iberia staff that will take place over a 15 day period. The strike has been called by unions representing Iberia staff in protest to the restructuring plans of the airline, including 3,807 layoffs.
During the first week of strikes (18th – 22nd February), Iberia will cancel 415 of the 1,062 scheduled flights (39%) while Vueling, Air Nostrum and Iberia Express altogether will have to cancel more than 800 flights, as they can not get enough ground handling staff which is provided by the Iberia Airport Services division.
Of the total number of Iberia flights cancelled, 19 correspond to the long haul (10%), 190 are medium haul international flights (39%) and 206 domestic or short haul flights (34%).
The Ministry of Development has set a minimum service for the fifteen day strike that will guarantee 100% of flights to the Canary Islands and 50% of services between Spanish and foreign cities.
Meanwhile, the management of the airline have released a statement in the press in which they called for the unions to act responsibly and to call of the strikes which “hurt customers”.
Unions representing the ground workers and cabin crew (TCP) have called for a total of fifteen days of 24-hour strikes against the cuts. A total of 20,000 Iberia staff have been called to the strike.
It is anticipated that the economic cost of the strike will cost the company more than €3 million each day.
This week, the Minister of Development, Ana Pastor, said that the Spanish economy could not afford “to lose over €10 million a day” and a further appeal to Iberias management and the workers unions to reach an agreement to avoid the 15 days of strike.
The airline has announced the launch of a contingency plan to cater for all their customers during the strike, for which rates have eased to facilitate the exchange or refund.
Update : Check Iberia’s website for real time info here
* Archive image Iberia Strike
