Are you traveling by plane this Christmas? These are the strikes you will face in the coming days

2023-12-30 20:01:08

Those who are going to travel by plane in the next two weeks should know that their trip may be affected by the strikes called by the unions both at the busiest airport in Spain, Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, and at the main airline national, Iberia.

Barajas

The mobilizations called by the workers’ representatives will begin tonight at midnight. UGT has called from 0:00 a.m. today until next January 7 for a strike involving the approximately 35 employees of aircraft ground movements (SDP) at the Madrid airport, which according to union sources may affect more than 8,500 flights and one million passengers. The strike has been called according to the unions due to the impossibility of fixing “an unsustainable labor situation that directly affects the safety of airport operations.” According to UGT, “the SDP has experienced a progressive deterioration in working conditions and quality of service under various companies.” The current management of Skyway, with a reduction in the initial tender price of 30%, they claim, “has intensified the problem in an economic context of accumulated inflation of 24% since 2011 while salaries have never risen in line and of new incorporations have fallen by more than 30%”.

For this strike, the minimum services established by the Ministry of Transport reach 91% of operations, although UGT has warned that only 58% of international flights and 32% of national flights are guaranteed.

Iberia

Added to the strikes in Barajas are those called by CC OO and UGT in Iberia. Both unions have called a strike in the airline’s handling services between January 5 and 8, coinciding with the Three Kings holiday. The protests have led the Iberia Group to cancel 444 flights, 270 from Iberia, 64 from Iberia Express and 110 from Air Nostrum, which will affect a total of 45,641 travelers. To mitigate the problems, the airline has announced that it is making the conditions of its flights more flexible to facilitate changes and refunds for customers affected by the strike.

After the cancellations, the company plans to operate 836 flights, 76% of the total of 1,106 scheduled. Among the flights it plans to operate are practically all long-haul flights (including Level’s). Of the 270 Iberia flight cancellations, 51% will be domestic flights and 49% will be European flights. Iberia Express will operate 88% of its flights and Air Nostrum 72%.

Rights of those affected

The Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs published a note today, Saturday, in which it recalls the rights of passengers in the event of possible flight cancellations at Spanish airports due to the strike called in Iberia. The General Directorate of Consumer Affairs recommends consulting the information provided by the airline in airports or websites, as well as the rights that assist air passengers on the website of the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA). Among them, Consumption reminds that passengers affected by cancellations have the right to receive an information document indicating the rules regarding compensation and assistance, as well as to be served with food and drink. There must also be the possibility of making two phone calls or having access to other forms of communication such as email or fax, and accommodation in a hotel if it is necessary to spend the night or make an additional stay, for which you must take care of transportation between the airport and the place of accommodation.

Regarding the canceled flight, the affected company can choose between several options, the refund of the full cost of the ticket within seven days following the cancellation of the flight; alternative transportation to your final destination as quickly as possible and an alternative on a date that suits the passenger.

In case of cancellation, passengers are entitled to financial compensation of between 250 and 600 euros, depending on the distance of the flight, with some exceptions, such as if the airline has informed them of the cancellation 14 days before the scheduled flight or between two weeks and seven days before the scheduled flight. Nor is it obligated if it has offered the client alternative transportation that leaves no more than two hours in advance and arrives at the final destination less than four hours late, or no more than one hour in advance and arrives at the final destination less. two hours late.

In its note, Consumo recalls that the strike planned for Three Kings Week “does not constitute an extraordinary circumstance that exempts the airline from its obligation to pay compensation in the event of flight cancellation.”