Madrid, Aug 28 (AFP\/APP): Iberia Express, the low-cost arm of Spain’s national carrier, cancelled eight domestic flights Sunday as cabin crew launched a 10-day strike for higher wages amid soaring inflation.<\/p>\n
The walkout, which will run from August 28 to September 6, is expected to involve 92 cancellations affecting more than 17,000 passengers, a spokeswoman for the USO union said.<\/p>\n
The stoppage comes as Spain’s airline sector struggles with rolling strikes by staff at budget rivals EasyJet and Ryanair.
\nNeighbouring Portugal also suffered a weekend of strikes by baggage handlers.<\/p>\n
Throughout the day, eight flights were cancelled in Spain but there were no delays, a USO statement said, indicating 1,500 passengers had been affected.<\/p>\n
Iberia Express confirmed eight “preventative cancellations”, saying in a statement it had arranged alternative flights or transport for 84 percent of affected passengers, with the rest opting for a refund or vouchers.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the airline had announced it would cancel 24 domestic flights during the first three days of the walkout, affecting some 3,000 passengers.<\/p>\n
It did not immediately say how many more flights would be axed beyond those initial dates.<\/p>\n
Iberia Express connects Madrid with about 40 cities across Europe.
\nSpain’s national carrier Iberia is owned by IAG, which also owns British Airways and Ireland’s Aer Lingus.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, 12 EasyJet flights were also cancelled on Sunday as the airline’s pilots observed their third period of strike action this month, the SEPLA union said.<\/p>\n
The cancellations affected flights into or out of Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands that were connecting with various European cities.<\/p>\n
Since they began their first three-day strike on August 12, there have been 87 flight cancellations.<\/p>\n
The pilots are demanding the restoration of conditions they enjoyed before the pandemic and the resumption of talks for a new collective agreement.<\/p>\n
Their walkout began just two weeks after a strike by EasyJet cabin crew which resulted in a deal.<\/p>\n
In Portugal, meanwhile, several major airports were hit by stoppages from baggage handling company Portway on the final day of a three-day wage protest affecting dozens of flights.<\/p>\n
Portway stated 69 flights were cancelled in Lisbon and Porto with 196 flights hit altogether across the stoppage which also affected Algarve hub Faro and Funchal on Madeira.<\/p>\n
Unions put the affected flight tally at 230.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Madrid, Aug 28 (AFP\/APP): Iberia Express, the low-cost arm of Spain’s national carrier, cancelled eight domestic flights Sunday as cabin crew launched a 10-day strike for higher wages amid soaring inflation. The walkout, which will run from August 28 to September 6, is expected to […]<\/p>\n
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