In Portugal and Spain, strikes disrupt air traffic, canceling nearly 200 flights. Geneva Cointrin was partially affected with a total of 8 canceled flights.
IAG’s low-cost airline Iberia Express canceled 92 flights in Spain on Friday following cabin crew union USO announced a 10-day strike from August 28. The cancellations, which mainly concern domestic flights, will affect around 17,000 passengers, according to USO estimates.
In neighboring Portugal, a three-day strike at the airports of Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Funchal by employees of Portway, a group responsible for airport handling, led to the cancellation of some 90 flights. According to the Cointrin airport website, 4 flights to Porto and Lisbon have been canceled as well as 4 arrivals in Geneva departing from Porto and Lisbon.
Frequent strikes this summer
“This decision clearly shows that the airline is aware of the discomfort of its staff, however it does not come with proposals to the meetings,” said union delegate Estefanía Díaz in a statement. Iberia Express was not immediately available for comment.
In Portugal, around 90% of Portway workers are on strike Friday at Lisbon airport, where 60 flights to and from the Portuguese capital have already been canceled, said Pedro Figueiredo, spokesman for the National Union of Workers. civil aviation workers (SINTAC). The union’s demands include better working conditions, wage increases and full paid leave.
The situations in Spain and Portugal are not isolated cases. Indeed, the employees of several airlines and European airport management groups went on strike this summer to demand better working conditions and wage increases to offset inflation, in a context of strong recovery in demand for travel following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Archyde.com/aps
