Iberia Cancels 124 Flights As Pilots Strike

Iberia has cancelled 124 flights after its pilots began a series of
one-day strikes, causing disruption for many passengers returning from
their Easter holidays.
A spokeswoman for the Spanish airline said 38% of 330 scheduled
services, including destinations within Spain, around Europe and to
Latin America, have been grounded.
"Iberia, its staff, and its partner companies will spare no means in
their efforts to assist customers and find them alternative travel
arrangements," the firm said in a statement.
Iberia pilots are protesting against the airline's new budget offshoot
airline, Iberia Express, which began flying on March 25.
They have vowed to strike every Monday and Friday until July 20 - a
total of 30 days.
A previous string of 12 one-day pilot strikes in December, January and
February forced about one-third of flights to be cancelled each day.
Iberia estimated it cost the firm a total 36 million euros (£29m).
Iberia management and the pilots union SEPLA have failed to reach
agreement over the launch of Iberia Express, serving short and medium
haul routes.
The union says Iberia Express is a threat to employment and
conditions, claiming plans to transfer 40 aircraft from Iberia to the
offshoot with the loss of 8,000 jobs.
However, the company says it is vital to increase profitability and
claims the union has shown an "irresponsible and intransigent"
attitude.
Last week, Iberia asked a court to ban the strikes planned over the
next few months and award compensation for the 12 days of strikes held
between December and March.
A decision could take at least a month, a spokeswoman said.
:: An estimated 1.5 million Britons are reported to have travelled
abroad this Easter with millions more taking a break in the UK.
The AA is predicting huge queues as holiday makers return home, with
the west of England, particularly around Bristol, the worst hit.
The M1, M4, M25 and M62 could also see jams because of lane
restrictions caused by roadworks, the motoring group added.