Holidaymakers from the UK face further flight delays and disruption from the latest wave of strikes confirmed by Spanish cabin crew working for two of the biggest low-cost airlines. Staff working out of selected Spanish airports are preparing for a new series of walkouts in disputes over pay and conditions.
Ryanair cabin crew will strike July 12-15, July 18-21 and July 25-28 at 10 airports across Spain, according to the USO and SICTPLA unions. Bases at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca and Malaga are likely to be affected by action
The USO union has asked the Spanish Government to mediate in the situation and called on all Spanish Ryanair workers to support the strike. Strikes in June caused more than 1,000 delays in Spain and some action coincided with easyJet strikes.
The no-frills carrier reported 10 cancellations in Spain on Saturday and 123 delays affecting routes from London and Glasgow.
Ryanair stated it had only encountered minor disruption to schedules to previous strikes. It claimed any cancellations were caused by a two-day strike at the French Air Traffic Control (ATC) centre in Marseille and thunderstorms across Southern Europe.
Bosses claimed under two per cent Ryanair’s 9,000 flights were affected by crew strikes. They called support for the strikes "minor and poorly supported."
More strikes are planned by employees of low-cost rival easyJet with walkouts in Spain scheduled for July 15, 16, 17, 29, 30 and 31. Some 450 cabin crew members have been called to strike at bases in Barcelona, Malaga and Palma de Mallorca.
An easyJet spokesperson said the airline plans to operate its full schedule and would do everything possible to minimise disruption.
