The pilots of the Spanish airline Spanair have called a series of one-day strikes this month and next, so anyone planning to travel to or from Spain over the Christmas period are advised to look for another airline or be prepared to face delays or cancellations.

Aswell as providing national flights to most major Spanish cities, Spanair flies passangers to and from a large number of countries in Europe and to some destinations in the United States too.

The second of the day-strikes was called yesterday, and was reportedly supported by 90% of Spanair’s pilots. Strikes have also been called for 18th, 23rd, 24th and 30th Novermber, and 1st, 2nd, 14th, 15th, 16th, 21st and 22nd December.

The Scandinavian airline SAS owns 95% of Spanair, and this is the first strike ever called in the history of the company. Spanair pilots complain of «repeated failure to comply with worker agreements and a reduction in working rights and guarentees» due to «the desire of the company to increasingly outsource contracts for planes and pilots to other companies in order to keep up with Spanair’s activity».