SPAIN: More than 150 flights are cancelled as pilots of Spanish carrier Iberia walk-out over creation of low cost airline Iberia Express

Record ID: 340724

  • Title: SPAIN: More than 150 flights are cancelled as pilots of Spanish carrier Iberia walk-out over creation of low cost airline Iberia Express
  • Date: 10th April 2012
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (APRIL 9, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IBERIA PLANES ON TARMAC CHECK-IN DESK AT TERMINAL AND DEPARTURE BOARDS NUN AND MAN LOOKING AT DEPARTURE BOARD BOARD DETAILING CANCELLED FLIGHTS PASSENGERS ARRIVING WITH LUGGAGE VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS IN LINE AT IBERIA CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PAULA, IBERIA PASSENGER BOOKED ON DOMESTIC FLIGHT TO VI
  • Embargoed: 25th April 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain, Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Business,Employment,Transport
  • Reuters ID: LVA3QUJ218NBHI6DP8CEH4NPH0H6
  • Story Text: Iberia pilots staged the first of 30 stoppages on Monday (April 9) causing the Spanish carrier to cancel 156 flights.
    The airline's pilots union is protesting over the creation of low-cost airline Iberia Express which they say threatens their jobs.
    Walkouts are planned every Friday and Monday from April 9 to July 20.
    Iberia has tried to minimise disruptions by allowing passengers to re-schedule their flights or fly on alternative airlines. Refunds are also an option.
    Information on flight cancellations is available on the airline website in order to allow passengers to plan ahead.
    Some passengers however have complained they were not given information.
    Paula, a passenger on an internal flight to Vigo, only found out her flight had been cancelled when she arrived at the airport. Although she was put on alternative flight, she complained her flight was much delayed.
    "They have put me on another flight which leaves at four in the afternoon, so, as my flight was leaving at 7am, I thought I would arrive at 8-8:30am, but now I'll arrive at 6pm," she said.
    Other passengers reported they had no problem and their flights were departing as planned.
    "I have had no problem whatsoever so far. I checked and it seems like my flight to Caracas hasn't been cancelled so I expect to have no problem. So far everything's perfect," Arturo Serrano said as he prepared to check -in to his flight to Caracas, Venezuela.
    On Friday 122 flights will be cancelled.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register