PASSENGERS travelling to Spain and Belgium face severe disruption today as more than two dozen flights have been cancelled due to strike action.
Ryanair last night cancelled most flights to and from Spain which had been due to operate today.
Despite a general one-day strike in Spain, the airline had hoped to operate “hand-baggage only flights”. This would have meant passengers not being allowed to check in bags.
However, in a statement last night, it said that the Spanish government had failed to ensure the minimum service guarantees for non-Spanish airlines’ flights.
As a result, Ryanair flights between Dublin and Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Murcia and Palma Mallorca, have been cancelled.
Ryanair flights between Shannon and Malaga have also been cancelled.
Aer Lingus has cancelled six flights between Dublin and Madrid, Malaga and Barcelona. However, the airline yesterday evening planned to operate the rest of its Irish flights to and from Spain.
The 24-hour Spanish strike has been called following austerity measures by the country’s socialist government.
A wildcat strike by Belgian air traffic control began yesterday afternoon. This morning’s early Ryanair flights between Brussels and Dublin were cancelled as a result.
The strike, which was due to last 24-hours, ended sooner than expected last night. As a result Aer Lingus reinstated its morning service between Dublin and Brussels late last night .
Both airlines have apologised to passengers for disruption and have published a list of affected flights on their websites and are contacting affected passengers by e-mail.
Ryanair reiterated its call for action from the EU to prevent strikes on essential services such as air traffic control and travel related services.
Ryanair’s head of communications Stephen McNamara said it was “ridiculous” that Belgian controllers could strike without notice “thereby causing maximum disruption and suffering to air passengers”.
He said it was “appalling” that Spanish air traffic controllers “continue to engage in strikes, go-slows and work to rules”.
Air traffic control services were the greatest cause of air traffic control delays in Europe, Mr McNamara said.
He called for the removal of the right to strike of air traffic controllers or replacing them with military or other controllers.
“How many more times will Europe’s skies be closed before the European Commission finally takes some action to end this recurring ATC chaos?” he asked.
There is likely to be more disruption for air passengers as French unions have announced two new one-day stoppages on October 2nd and October 12th in protest at pension reform.
