Iberia 444 flights faced cancellations during January 5, 6, 7 and 8, overlapping with the Epiphany celebrations and the return of thousands to workplaces and homes due to a strike called by the company’s ground handling workers. In total, 45,641 passengers were affected. The airline stated that flights eligible for a change in ticket date or a refund of the amount paid would be impacted by the suspension.
Unions CCOO and UGT, with the participation of the USO union, called a four-day strike inside Iberia’s ground handling division. Their aim is to secure a viable plan for the airline’s operations to safeguard the future of this service. The protest comes after Iberia lost ground handling at Spain’s eight major airports.
The 444 canceled flights are spread across Iberia’s three main Spanish brands: 270 under Iberia itself, 64 under Iberia Express, and 110 under Air Nostrum.
Iberia had planned to operate 836 flights during the period, which represents 76% of the total expected 1,106 flights. The operations set to run largely cover long-haul routes, including those operated by LEVEL, with cancellations affecting 51% of domestic flights and 49% of European services. Iberia Express was slated to operate 88% of its flights, while Air Nostrum was expected to run 72% of theirs.
Passengers with bookings for January 5, 6, 7 or 8 can request changes to travel dates or refunds of the ticket amount starting this Friday. Customers with flights not directly affected by the strike may still change their travel date or request a voucher. Changes can be made through the Iberia website, via the travel agency where the ticket was purchased, or through the company’s Customer Service Center, as reported in the official statement.
Additionally, the airline advises all travelers to check in online in advance and to allow extra time when arriving at the airports, due to potential disruptions caused by the strike and the related operational adjustments.
Source: Iberia official update [citation].