The start of peak summer flight schedules to Spain face disruption due to planned strikes by air traffic controllers over two weekends.
Industrial action by Spanish air traffic staff is due to start tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday.
A second walk-out is also threatened for the weekend of July 25-26
Airlines are putting contingency plans in place to try to avert delays and cancellations.
EasyJet said: “Like all airlines flying to and from Spain, if this action goes ahead we expect an impact to our flights during this period.
“We would like to assure our passengers that we are preparing for any disruption if the strike does proceed and will do everything possible to limit the inconvenience of this on your journey.”
The latest strike action follows partial stoppages by controllers over four days in June.
The Spanish air traffic control service, Enaire, expects to operate 80% of services during the strike periods while talks continue with the USCA controllers’ union.
“If negotiations fail Enaire will take all the necessary actions to ensure the general interest and minimize the impact of the walkouts on the users,” the company said.
“The importance of tourism for our economy and its connection with aviation must be considered, since about 80% of the tourists visiting our country come by plane. Tourism represents around 15% of our GDP.
“Apart from the impact on the Spanish industry of interrupting tourist flow on those days, we would have to keep in mind the damage of a negative image of our country and a diversion of tourists towards other destinations in competition as consequence of that.”
The dispute dates back to the dismissal of a controller in Santiago de Compostela and a wildcat strike by controllers in 2010.