06/03/2013 00:00
TW
0

Palma/Madrid.—A strike by workers at loss-making airline Iberia against mass job cuts forced the cancellation of 239 flights yesterday, the company said.

Iberia cancelled 76 flights yesterday, or 40 percent of the total number of flights that it had been scheduled to operate, because of the action, an Iberia spokesman said.

Three other carriers with whom Iberia shares services -- Iberia Express, Air Nostrum and Vueling -- cancelled another 163 flights because of the strike.

A minimum service operates during the strike under Spanish law.
All affected passengers were put on other flights or got a refund, the Iberia spokesman said. The strike started on Monday, the second of three five-day stoppages scheduled by Iberia ground and flight staff.

The company and the three other carriers have cancelled a total of around 1'370 flights overall from March 4-8, mainly to destinations in Spain and Europe.

The airline's staff carried out the first of three five-day strikes February 18-22 and plan another from March 18 to 22.
The first strike cost Iberia 3.0 million euros a day, the Iberia spokesman said.
It was too soon to tell what the cost to the company will be from the second five-day strike, he added.