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.
