Iberia Summer Flights 2007

Iberia has launched a campaign called ‘Iberia - Basic Prices’ for cheap flights this summer 2007. The company hopes to compete against other low cost airlines and their constant special offers.

Iberia’s Offers of Flights at Basic Prices

Conditions and duration of Iberia's special offer:

• You need to buy your ticket before the 29th June
• Flights can only be made up to 6th September 2007 (depatures)

Prices per journey (applicable to return tickets only) are:

• Flights to and from the Balearic Islands starting at 23 euros
• Flights within the Peninsula starting at 25 euros
• Fights to and from the Canary Islands starting at 45 euros

All prices include tax and handling charges. There is an increase of 5 euros per ticket for outbound flights only. For more details consult the Iberia website.

Spanair strike affects 7000 passengers

Strike by Spanair cabin crews left 7000 passengers stranded

The Independent Union for Cabin Crews (Sitcpla) says that yesterday’s strike was supported by more than 50% of its members and caused 75 flights to be cancelled (35% of Spanair’s programmed fights yesterday) and left 7000 passengers stranded at airports throughout Spain. The strike was called to protest at the loss of disposable income, excess work loads and staff shortages. Spanair flights which were still in operation yesterday were delayed around 40 minutes.

Yesterday’s strike affected mostly Madrid-Barajas airport. Spanair was forced to cancel 4 flights between Madrid and Coruña, 6 between Madrid and Alicante, 10 between Madrid and Bilbao, 2 between Madrid and Granada, 4 between Madrid and Jerez, 6 between Madrid and Malaga, 4 between Madrid and Pamplona, 2 between Madrid and San Sebastian, 8 between Madrid and Valencia, 2 between Bilbao and Jerez and 4 between Madrid and Vigo. In addition 2 flights between Madrid and Copenhagen , 2 between Madrid and Frankfurt, 2 between Madrid and Zürich and 2 between Madrid and Vienna were also cancelled. According to Spainair the rest of yesterday’s scheduled flights operated normally.

In Madrid-Barajas airport dozens of passengers affected by the strike had to queue since first thing in morning at Spanair check in desks and at the company’s offices at airports. No incident were reported according to official sources. However, passengers complained that they hadn’t been warned about the strike until their arrival at the airport. AENA has stated that the strike by Spanair cabin crews did not affect other operations in Barajas airport.

Further strikes have been called to take place on the 1st, 9th, 15th and 31st July and the 1st and 15th August.

British Airways (BA) staff also called strikes in Madrid and Barcelona airports (Barajas and El Prat airports) although no flights have been cancelled and all BA flights operated normally. British Airways was criticised for ‘irregular practice’ because they substituted staff on strike with staff flown over from London.

Lost baggage on Spanish flights

Spanish airlines Iberia and Spanair lose 12 cases for every 1000 passengers

Iberia and Spanair lose around 12 cases for every 1000 passengers they carry according to figures just released from the European Association of Airlines (AEA) for the first quarter of 2007.

However, these figures are better than the average for other European airlines which lose on average 15.4 cases for every 1000 passengers. Out of 24 airlines included in the study Iberia came 12th followed by Spanair.

The best airline in this respect was Turkish Airlines which only loses on average 4.3 pieces of luggage for every 1000 passengers. Air Malta came second losing 5.8 cases and third place was occupied by Tarom Romanian which loses on average 7.6 cases.

All the other large European airlines included in the study performed worse than Iberia and Spanair. Alitalia loses 14.5 cases for every 1000 passengers, Air France 14.9 cases, Lufthansa 15.4 cases, KLM 17.1 cases, British Airways 24.7 cases (!!) and the worst airline was Portuguese TAP which loses on average 29.9 cases for every 1000 passengers.