Pilots at Spanish carrier Air Europa are due to strike today (Monday) and Tuesday, Thursday and Friday this week in a dispute over pay, yet passengers to and from the UK should be unaffected, according to the airline.
The pilots’ union in Spain, SEPLA, called the strikes this week and a further four days of action next week on May 29-30 and June 1-2, following four days of strikes at the start of May.
Air Europa announced the cancellation of more than 100, mainly domestic, flights this week and next. But the carrier’s twice daily service between Gatwick and Madrid is expected to operate as scheduled, as are connecting long-haul flights to and from Madrid.
However, there is a risk the dispute could trigger wider industrial action by aviation workers in Spain against the government’s imposition of a ‘minimum services law’ which requires most flights to operate during strikes.
Pilots at other airlines operating in Spain, including Ryanair and easyJet, are considering strike action and cabin crew and air traffic controllers have threatened to join walkouts against the law, similar to the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill introduced by the UK government in response to continuing rail strikes.
The Spanish government has declared 90% of services must operate as a ‘minimum’ on strike days. However, the pilots’ union won a small victory earlier this month when a court granted its appeal against enforcement of the law.
Media outlets in Spain reported the previous strikes affected more than 600 Air Europa flights, and the union has warned the strikes “will be extended if the company refuses to negotiate”.
However, a UK spokesman said: “The pilots’ strikes should have no real impact on our operations to and from the UK.
“We’ve seen no delays or cancellation of flights between London and Madrid, and our long-haul connections will be protected.”
In a statement, the airline said: “Given the new strike call, the airline will follow the instructions established by the Spanish Ministry of Transport.
“The flight operations that are available in our sales channels will be operated for sure.
“Air Europa will reinforce its usual contact channels and in the case of an affected flight, the passenger will be directly notified and will be offered an alternative and solution.”
The Spanish airline is the subject of a €400-million takeover bid by British Airways and Iberia owner International Airlines Group (IAG) which was agreed in February with the current owner, Spanish travel group Globalia.
IAG already owns 20% of Air Europa after an outstanding loan was converted into a shareholding in August last year.
The loan was made following a previous takeover agreement between IAG and Globalia, which was subsequently aborted.
IAG originally agreed to pay €1 billion for Air Europa in November 2019, but the terms were amended and the transaction price halved to €500 million in early 2021 before the deal was abandoned.
The new purchase price was agreed in February this year. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval.