Holidaymakers run the risk of more holiday chaos with Spanish Air Traffic Control officers considering industrial action. The key workers will decide later this month if a walkout goes ahead bringing further misery for travellers who have already suffered continued disruption.
No dates for a strike have been confirmed by the ATC staff have already stated they are unhappy owing to staff shortages, long working hours and other employment issues. Any strike would add to the carnage suffered by millions of UK passengers hit with flight cancellations and delays in this country.
Unions claim a large number of retired staff have not been replaced even though passengers and air traffic is expected to increase.
There are five control centres which sort much of the air space above Spain. These are in Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Madrid and Seville.
A final decision on any strike action will be made at a meeting of representatives from these control centres in Barcelona later this month. Unions claim the number of controllers is down compared to pre-pandemic levels, with most of the issues linked to busy holiday airports, such as Palma de Mallorca.
There are 53 ATC officers operating in Palma compared to 56 three years ago. State-owned air navigation company Enaire, responded to the threat of a strike by announcing that the total complement of personnel in Majorca will increase to 197.
Cabin crew employed by no-frills airline Ryanair in Spain have already pencilled in a series of walkouts in a dispute over pay, while baggage handlers in some airports are also planning to strike.
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