MADRID (AFP) - Spain's national carrier Iberia Thursday announced the cancellation of around 350 flights next week due to a strike by cabin crew.
"Because of the strike called by the CTA and SITCPLA cabin attendants unions, Iberia is cancelling some flights scheduled for November 10-11, since they are not covered by the minimum services requirement established by Spanish authorities," it said.
The walkout will affect around 350 national and international flights, according to a list on Iberia's website, www.iberia.com.
Unions representing flight crews are in dispute with management over their collective agreement.
An earlier strike by cabin crew on October 26-27 led to the cancellations of some 400 flights.
The carrier, which is in merger talks with British Airways, announced last month it will create a new airline to handle its short- and medium-haul routes as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at confronting declining revenues amid the economic crisis.
Among other measures, it plans a hiring freeze for the duration of the plan, a company-wide wage freeze in 2010 and 2011, lay-offs of all cabin attendants older than 55 and additional savings of up to 37 million euros a year in overhead costs in 2011 and 2012.
