Pilots in Spain’s Sepla Union are planning a walk-out on December 18 and 19, in protest against Iberia’s plans for a new short and medium-haul airline.
Iberia announced in October its plans to launch Iberia Express in the summer of 2012.
Many existing short and medium-haul services operate at a loss, said Iberia, and with the launch of Iberia Express it will be able to concentrate on more profitable long-haul routes.
At the time, Iberia said the new carrier will have lower operating costs than the legacy airline’s existing short and medium-haul business, partly due to the recruitment of new staff at “market rates”.
The move has been met with criticism by pilots at Iberia, however, who claim the plans violate existing agreements.
Details of which flights will be hit by the strike have not yet been announced, but Iberia said it is working on a contingency plan.
Flights by Air Nostrum and Vueling will be unaffected.
www.iberia.com