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Niall Carson/PA Wire
Spain

Flight disruption amid Spain's anti-austerity protests

Two of the country’s biggest unions have called a general strike for tomorrow over government spending cuts and labour reforms.

SPANISH WORKERS are planning to hold a general strike tomorrow which could seriously disrupt air travel into and out of the country.

The strike comes after a raft of austerity measures being introduced by the government and over the introduction of changes to working conditions which will make it cheaper for employers to fire their staff.

The changes will also make it easier to cut wages, the AFP reports.

Two of Spain’s biggest unions, the CCOO and UGT, have organised over 100 demonstrations around the country to protest against the proposed labour reforms and against further public spending cuts, according to the CCOO.

The Spanish government announced €15bn in cuts in December, but on Friday, Prime Minister Rajoy warned that the country is facing a “very, very austere budget” in which billions more is expected to be cut. Spain’s unemployment level is at around 23 per cent, while the Bank of Spain recently reported that the country had slipped back into recession.

Irish airlines Ryanair and Aer Lingus are warning passengers who are due to fly to or from Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canaries tomorrow to expect disruptions.

Ryanair has already cancelled a number of its Spanish flights over the planned protest and the details can be found on its website here. The airline says that anyone booked to travel on the cancelled flights can transfer free of charge to the next available Ryanair flight or apply for a refund. More information from the airline those options can be found here.

Aer Lingus is advising its customers to monitor its website for information about travel disruptions and about their flight status.

“We are currently monitoring the situation and seeking clarity from the Spanish authorities, on which flights we will have the ability to operate,” the airline says. “We expect to have further information by no later than 14:00 (Irish Time) Wednesday 28th March.”

Meanwhile, British Airways says that it expects delays in its Spanish services tomorrow and advises people to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport.

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