Iberia strikes affect tourism in the Canaries

Despite promises of a guaranteed 100% minimum services schedule in the Canary Islands by the government during the 15 day strike planned by unions representing Iberia staff, the strike has affected tourism in the Canaries. Although the minimum flight schedule in and out of the islands has been maintained, Iberia ground staff are used for around 15 other airlines that operate in the islands. Yesterday, Tuesday 19th February, Air Berlin had to cancel flights due to the lack of ground staff at the Canarian airports.

The president of the Spanish Federation of Travel Agents (CEAV), Rafael Gallego, said yesterday that “The Canary Islands is the Spanish community most affected by the Iberia strike, despite the minimum services to protect every flight, because it provides ground handling staff for their own aircraft, but also for around fifteen other airlines bringing tourists to the islands”.

In Mr Gallegos opinion, the current situation is not really comparable to a SEPLA pilots in which only Iberia flights are affected. “This time, the strikes affect all airlines and there have been cancellations in flights from Vueling, Air Nostrum, Iberia Express, Iberia and Air Berlin.” he explained.

He went on to say “What concerns us most is in the medium term, as people plan their Easter holidays which the tour operators are very concerned about”.

The president of the Federation of Employers of Hospitality and Tourism, Las Palmas (FEHT), Fernando Fraile, who said “When a tourist goes looking for a place to holiday, you do not expect to find any problems, so the fact that you know there are continuously strikes causes unrest and uneasiness in the market that will harm the Canary Islands.

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