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Budget airline easyJet cancelled 20 flights across Spain before 3pm on Wednesday June 25, the first day of a three-day strike called by the airline’s Spanish cabin crew.

 

Disruptions were reported at key airports including Palma de Mallorca, Málaga and Barcelona, although services at Alicante remained unaffected.

 

Palma experienced the highest number of cancellations, with nine flights grounded on routes to Geneva, Basel, Milan, London, Montpellier, Manchester, Lille, Amsterdam and Bordeaux. In Málaga, six flights were cancelled to and from Geneva, Manchester, Zurich, Leeds, Bristol and Rabat.

 

Barcelona saw five cancellations involving flights to Basel, London, Manchester and Berlin. No cancellations were reported at Alicante Airport.

 

The strike was announced by the USO union, which represents easyJet’s Spanish-based crew, and is scheduled to run from June 25 to 27. The union has warned that if the company "does not demonstrate a real willingness to negotiate," it may call an indefinite strike beginning in August.

 

According to the USO, 85% of the workforce has joined the walkout. The central issue is pay, which the union says is significantly lower than in other European countries.

 

"Spanish flight attendants at easyJet earn the lowest salaries in all of Europe. While our base salary is €14,067 per year, our European colleagues earn from 29% more in Portugal to over 200% more in Switzerland," said Pier Luigi Copello, Secretary General of USO at easyJet.

 

"We deeply regret any inconvenience this strike may cause to passengers," Mr Copello added.

 

"We are also victims of a company that disrespects its workers."

 

To try and reduce the impact on passengers, Spain’s Ministry of Transport has imposed minimum service levels. These require easyJet to operate between 81% and 90% of its scheduled flights during the strike, depending on the airport.

 

Specifically, the minimum is 90% in Málaga, 86% in Barcelona, 88% in Alicante and 81% in Palma.

 

For passengers, this means the majority of flights will still operate, but some more delays or cancellations seem inevitable, especially on routes considered non-essential.

 

Travellers are advised to check their flight status in advance and allow extra time at the airport.

 

 

Image: easyJet