Airlines are advising passengers to check the company’s website before flying.
Airline passengers travelling both to and from Spain could see their flights affected this week as workers in Spanish Air Traffic Control (ATC) have expressed their plans to strike.
Irregular working patterns and a system of one day off for every eight worked are the alleged reasons for striking.
Reports suggest that the air traffic controllers are threatening to leave their posts as early as the end of this week unless their demands are met.
The workers planning to strike are employed at airports on the east coast of Spain and the Balearics, including those that service popular tourist destinations such as El Prat Airport in Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca Airport, Ibiza Airport and Menorca Airport.
Earlier this year, it was announced in Spanish papers that Barcelona air traffic controllers intended on engaging in industrial action from 20 June.
These strikes have been called by the Air-Traffic Controllers’ Union (USCA), which is currently embroiled in a long-standing dispute over staffing levels.
Strike action does not necessarily mean that all flights to and over Spain will be cancelled as the pilots and cabin crew will still be working. Serious delays, however, are expected should the strike occur.
JOE has reached out to Aer Lingus and Ryanair who have yet to comment.
Last weekend, a French Air Traffic Control strike saw a number of flights travelling to, from and over France from Ireland disrupted and cancelled.
ATC strikes in France have been a common occurrence of late, with airlines and flights from a number of countries, including Ireland, directly affected as a result.
French ATC strikes cause one-third of flight delays in Europe each year, at the cost of about €300 million to airlines, according to a French parliamentary report.
According to the Irish Travel Agents Association, Spain remains the number one holiday destination for Irish people with, on average, 1.8 million Irish tourists travelling there every year.
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