- Title: ITALY: Spanish air traffic strike paralyses Rome airport
- Date: 5th December 2010
- Summary: FLIGHT BOARD SHOWING CANCELLED FLIGHTS NEXT TO IBERIA SIGN PASSENGERS WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PASSENGER, JUAN CARLOS ALEBA, SAYING: "In the end the government should have found different solutions: a plan B. Something quicker than what they are doing right now, because we've been waiting for two days, and Spain's image is not that good right now." PASSENGERS WAIT
- Embargoed: 20th December 2010 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy, Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Travel / Tourism,Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA7WNIFGP5TMAJ5RG19KWLIR9N6
- Story Text: A wildcat work stoppage by Spanish air traffic controllers has also left inbound passengers stranded at other European airports, including at Rome.
Spain declared a "state of alarm" on Saturday (December 4) after a wildcat strike by air traffic controllers paralysed air travel for a second day.
Thousands of holidaymakers camped out in airports across the country as the unofficial industrial action threatened to deepen Spain's economic problems.
Air traffic eventually opened but many flights to and from Spain were cancelled.
"The government should have found different solutions", said Juan Carlos Aleba, a Spanish passenger from Barcelona. "We've been waiting for two days, and Spain's image is not that good right now," he said.
Airports authority AENA later said air traffic controllers were beginning to return to work, but the government said it would take 24-48 hours for the system to return to normal.
"They're saying we'll travel tomorrow, but nobody really knows", said Natalia, another Spanish passenger. "First they said at 5pm, then at 8pm, then they said it was cancelled. I want to leave"
In spite of the return to work by the controllers, the disruption is set to continue for some time yet: Spanish carrier Iberia has cancelled all flights until 0500 GMT on Sunday, and low cost carrier Ryanair scrapped all its Spanish flights on Saturday.
Many passengers were disgruntled with the extensive effects of the strike.
"It should not affect the passengers this way, they should find a way to protest that would not affect us so much," said one passenger.
Spain is carrying out tough reforms and spending cuts to rein in its deficit and ward off market fears it may need a bailout similar to that of Ireland.
The dispute over pay and conditions with the state run AENA comes as the cabinet of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero approved a package of austerity measures which changes rules on the number of hours air traffic controllers work per year and of a law allowing the army to take over air space in times of emergency. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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