Spanish airline cancels almost 150 flights at start of Easter holidays

MADRID -- The Spanish airline Air Nostrum has confirmed the cancellation of 148 flights between Monday and Wednesday due to the strike action called by the Spanish Airline Pilots' Union (SEPLA).

The strike has been called in protest against the company outsourcing contracts to third parties, and unless a solution is reached this week, further stoppages have been called on April 22 to 24.

Air Nostrom has signaled that it would be carrying out the agreed minimum services, which have been set at 47 percent for international flights and 31 percent for domestic flights, while maintaining a full service to the Canary and Balearic Islands.

Nevertheless, this week's cancellations are expected to affect around 10,000 passengers at the start of the Easter holiday period in Spain.

The airline has apologized for the "inconvenience" to passengers and asked for "understanding" while confirming it will announce the list of flights that will be cancelled next week.

This is not the only problem which Spanish holidaymakers are going to face over the coming week, with ground staff at Spanish airports also confirming they will be go on strike on April 21 and April 24 unless an agreement is reached on their collective agreement on wages and conditions.

Staff at the Spanish railway infrastructure company ADIF have also programmed a 24-hour stoppage on April 17, while security staff at the company will begin a series of two-hour stoppages the following day.