Iberia pilots' strike affects more than 11,000 passengers

Source dpa, Berlin

Jan. 9, 2012

Jan. 09--MADRID -- A strike by pilots of Spain's biggest airline Iberia on Monday led to the cancellation of more than 100 flights, affecting over 11,000 passengers.

Iberia said 138 flights were cancelled, while the pilots' trade union Sepla put the number of cancelled flights at 109, out of a total of 313 flights scheduled for Monday.

Only minimum services were available during the 24-hour strike. Flights to the Canary and Balearic Islands and flights operated by other airlines cooperating with Iberia were not affected.

Iberia said affected passengers were placed on other flights or given their money back. Passengers coming from Latin America complained over long waits during transits at Madrid airport.

The strike day followed two others in December. Another work stoppage is scheduled for Wednesday.

The pilots are protesting the creation of Iberia Express, a low-cost airline which is due to be launched in March. It will cover routes in Spain and Europe, freeing Iberia to concentrate on lucrative trans-Atlantic routes.

Sepla says the new airline will hire staff from outside Iberia, endangering thousands of jobs.

Iberia accused the pilots of striking at a date when thousands of people were returning from their Christmas holidays.