British tourists face travel disruption as Iberia cancels 118 flights

PA

British tourists face New Year travel disruption after Spanish airline Iberia cancelled 118 flights following pilot strikes.

According to the Daily Mail, a total of around 10,000 passengers have been affected, and eight of the carrier's 16 flights between London Heathrow and Madrid have been cancelled.

The strikes are a result of company plans to divert jetliners from domestic and medium-haul European routes to its new low-cost carrier Iberia Express, which is reported to launch in 2012 using lower-income pilots and flight attendants.

Iberia insists no job cuts are planned among its current 1,600-strong pilot team, but pilot union SEPLA has threatened more strikes over the launch of Iberia Express in April 2012, fearing job losses.

Iberia has said it has found seats on other carriers for the 10,000 passengers affected by the 24-hour strike.

According to the BBC, this is the second strike this month, following a walk-out on the 18 December.

Owner of Iberia, the International Airlines Group (IAG), is hoping to allocate 40 planes from its current fleet to Iberia Express.

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