Airline forced to cancel 460 flights this week due to strikes
AN airline that operates flights to and from Spain has been forced to cancel hundreds of routes.
Spanish flag carrier Iberia confirmed that they would be forced to cancel 461 flights this week due to strike action across the country.
More than 45,000 passengers are expected to be affected, with the strikes taking place from January 5-8.
While 51 per cent of flights are domestic within Spain, the other 49 per cent are flights between Europe.
Iberia currently operates from London Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham, to destinations such as Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Malaga and Majorca.
Across the four days, 22 flights to and from London Heathrow and Madrid have currently been cancelled.
This includes the following flights:
- January 5 – IB3163, IB3164, IB3170, IB3176, IB3177, IB3179
- January 6 – IB3163, IB3164, IB3170, IB3171, IB3172, IB3179
- January 7 – IB3160, IB3163, IB3169m IB3170, IB3176, IB3177
- January 8 – IB3160, IB3164, IB3169, IB3179
The airline said on the website: “We are working to minimise the impact of this disruption, which will lead to the cancellation of 461 flights: 270 operated by Iberia, 64 by Iberia Express, and 127 by Air Nostrum.”
Passengers affected by the flight cancellations can request a date change for their flights or get a full refund.
Anyone who still has a flight going ahead is urged to check in online and arrive at the airport earlier than usual.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting compensation if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
Thousands of flights have been cancelled to and from France this year too.
Last year it was announced that 16,500 flights to and from France would be cancelled due to ongoing ATC upgrades.
Systems used by Air Traffic Control date back to the 1970s, with modernised systems being introduced over the next few months.
French airports have been forced to reduced capacity by 20 per cent between January 9 and February 14.