Dec 032010
The Spanish government has said it will allow its military to take control of airspace if air traffic controllers do not return to work.
The controllers staged an unofficial walkout over working hours, leaving passengers across the country facing huge disruption.
The group called in sick en masse, closing down airspace over Spain – except the southern region of Andalucia.
The government has called on controllers to resume work immediately or defence will assume control of the airspace.
Airport operator AENA condemned the mass, coordinated action, saying it was an “intolerable” and “irresponsible” act which hit more than 200,000 passengers at the start of a long weekend.
It warned of disciplinary dismissals and said the action may even be considered criminal.
Controllers started calling in sick and leaving their posts around 4pm GMT at airports around Spain.
“Around 90% of controllers abandoned their work posts,” resulting in the mass shutdown, said an airport spokesman.
Commuters wait for flights at Madrid’s Bajaras airport
There were just three air traffic controllers at Madrid’s Barajas airport to cope with landing aircraft, the spokesman added.
Transport minister Jose Blanco said Spain would not allow the air traffic controllers to engage in “blackmail”.
Those due to fly to Spain from the UK are being advised to call their airline.
Iberia said no flights were taking off from airports in Madrid, the Canary Island and Palma but planes were still being allowed to land.
The strikes have coincided with a government decision to change the way Spain’s airports work.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigo Zapatero has approved austerity measures to partially privatise airports.
The Spanish government has said it will allow its military to take control of airspace if air traffic controllers do not return to work.
Related Article :- AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER STRIKE IN SPAIN 3 December 2010
Well I don’t see any guardia civil kicking down doors and arresting these criminals…..
Perhaps they do/do not have a reason to strike but the fact they did it without warning, is a disgrace. 150,000 people left in airports all over spain being told nothing typical spanish mayhem. Yes I and my family was among these people…
my wife and i stuck in tenerife airport for 2 days on sunday after queueing for over 3 hours were told first flight back to britain was 16 december with monarch. If it wasnt for my daughter who re-booked a flight for 9 dec in britain we would still be in tenerife.No help from monarch at all we were left to fend for ourself
Like John frank we were abandoned by Monarch.
due to fly back on 4th we queued for 2 hours on 4th then 4.5 hours on 5th only to be told the first flight on offer was 14th. No help with transport,accommodation,food etc. Son booked us on Jet2 for Friday 10th.
On Saturday 4th December we arrived at Tenerife airport hoping to fly home. We discovered the airport was closed due to the ATC strike.
No one from Monarch was available to help the hundreds of passengers milling around so we queued at the information desk for 3 hours.We were then told to return on Sunday to change our flights.
0830 Sunday Tim Jeans from Monarch on BBC.”Back to normal. We will clear the back log in two days.”
9.15 Sunday arrived back at the airport to find Monarch flights operating but only accepting people booked to fly that day.
Queued again,this time 4.5 hours.
One lady on information desk. Earliest flight 14th December. No help with accomodation,food,transport or anything else.
Booked on alternative airline for 10th.
Arrived home to find email from Monarch “welcome home – we hope you enjoys your flights with Monarch Airlines”
Out of pocket = £500