Hundreds of workers demonstrated outside Barajas, Iberia's hub, and inside the airport's Terminal 4 where they carried out a sit-in and chanted.
Outside the terminal police beat some strikers with truncheons. At least two protesters were arrested.
More than 80 Iberia flights were cancelled yesterday as workers at the carrier began the series of strikes that is expected to cost the airline and struggling national economy millions of euros in lost business.
Staff, including baggage handlers and air stewards, are holding three five-day strikes in February and March to protest management plans to axe jobs and cut salaries at the loss-making airline. Some 10% of long-haul flights and half of domestic flights will be grounded this week.
The labour unions kicked off the demonstrations in the morning with an 8km-march around Barajas, telling reporters the airline was under threat, as was the future of the airport.
"Nobody is safe from being sacked," said Elias Gonzalez, a maintenance supervisor at the protest who has worked for Iberia for 27 years.
"There was an initial deal with the company when the merger with the British was agreed, but now there is disagreement."
Although skeleton staff were on duty and the airline had rescheduled most passengers or returned them their money, some people were left stranded.
"When we come for tourism, we don't want to be bothered by strikes," said Robert, a French tourist who did not want to give his last name.
"Everyone has their problems but they shouldn't bother people who bring in money. That's also business."
Queues formed as some staff abandoned check-in desks while unionists shouted in the airport.
This week's strike coincides with school holidays in Britain, Spain's biggest source of tourists.
Tourism accounts for around 11% of Spanish economic output and is one of the country's few growth sectors in a prolonged recession that has pushed the unemployment rate above 26%.
- Reuters
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