Air Nostrum Faces Flight Cancellations Amid Sepla Pilot Strike
Air Nostrum canceled 33 flights on Monday, December 26, following a pilot strike organized by the Sepla union, a move that the airline confirmed via its customer notice published on the company site. The disruption touched several routes and airports, illustrating how labor actions can ripple across a regional carrier’s schedule.
The affected services included departures from Alicante, Granada, Ibiza, Madrid, Mallorca, Menorca, Pamplona, and Valencia, with additional cancellations impacting flights to and from Toulouse, Nice, Frankfurt, Bordeaux, and Bologna. The airline provided a full list of affected services on its official site for travelers seeking exact flight details, times, and destinations. This level of transparency helps passengers assess their options quickly during operational disruptions caused by strikes.
Passengers impacted by the cancellations were offered a range of remedies. Options included a refund of tickets, or changes to travel plans on alternate flights or dates, subject to seat availability. The carrier emphasized flexibility in pricing to facilitate date changes for those whose flights were canceled, and it committed to presenting alternative solutions to affected travelers where possible.
Air Nostrum cited the Sepla strike as the reason for the cancellations. The six-day schedule of industrial action was announced to cover December 26, 27, 29, 30, and January 2 and 3, creating a period of notable disruption for the carrier and its customers. The knock-on effect extended beyond the initial cancellations, with forecasts indicating a growing impact on flights through the end of the year and into January, as unions and carriers navigate the labor challenge together.
In total terms, the airline projected that the disruption would affect 37 flights on December 27, 34 on December 29, and 39 on December 30. For January, the anticipated total rose to 211 canceled flights, with 33 flights canceled on the second and 35 on the third, bringing the preliminary January total to 289 cancellations. This pattern underscores how a single day of strike action can cascade into a larger schedule challenge for a regional airline and its global partners who sometimes operate connecting services.
To support travelers during this period, Air Nostrum stated that it would keep fares flexible so passengers could adjust dates on canceled connections if needed. The company stressed its duty to explore alternate arrangements and to minimize the inconvenience caused by the disruptions, including rebooking on other routes and dates where possible and practical, given the constraints of available seats and demand.
Customers who originally purchased tickets through Iberia’s website or渠道 Iberia’s system were informed via messages from Iberia, the airline with which Air Nostrum operates the affected services. For travelers who booked through a travel agency, the agency itself would serve as the primary liaison for communications regarding the disruption and any subsequent changes. This approach helps consolidate information and streamline support during a volatile operational period. [Source: Air Nostrum press materials and carrier notices about the Sepla strike]”