Due to a multi-day strike by ground staff, the Spanish Iberia has to cancel flights in the coming days. From Friday 5 to Monday 8 January, a total of 469 flights will be cancelled. This includes 266 flights operated by Iberia, 63 operated by Iberia Express and 140 operated by Air Nostrum. The strike will take place at all 29 airports where Iberia operates, including Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mollarca, Seville and Valancia. In total, more than 45,600 passengers are affected. The background is that Iberia Airport Services, which is responsible for aircraft handling, lost almost all its contracts for major Spanish airports to competitors in a tender in September, with the exception of Madrid-Barajas. Around 7,000 employees fear that they will have to work under worse conditions for the new licensees. The unions demand that Iberia at least take over the handling of all aircraft of the airlines of parent company IAG. Iberia has so far rejected this on cost grounds. In addition to Iberia, IAG Group includes British Airways, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level. For around 90 percent of the affected passengers, Iberia has already found alternative solutions. On the website, the airline announces flexible conditions. A list of cancelled flights can also be found there. (Photo: Shutterstock).
