Iberia Ground Workers Strike to Affect Spain Air Traffic

Spain’s Iberia airline has canceled more than 400 flights in anticipation of an upcoming four-day strike by its ground crew, according to several news outlets. The cancellations affect Iberia, as well as the line’s low-cost carrier, Iberia Express and its regional airline Air Nostrum.  More than 45,000 passengers are so-far impacted.

According to Euronews, the strike, which begins Friday, Jan. 5, will affect 29 airports throughout Spain including Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, and Valencia. The strike may also affect flights operated by other airlines within the IAG (International Airlines Group) umbrella, including British Airways and Aer Lingus.

The strikes are in response to concerns about worker rights and working conditions after the contracts for the airline’s workers are set to be outsourced to another company.

According to Iberia’s website, the airline “is relaxing the conditions of its flights to facilitate changes and refunds for customers affected by the strike action…”