Update at 12:30

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS have been stranded at Spanish airports after air traffic controllers called in sick en masse last night.

The Spanish government ordered the military to take over the country’s air traffic control last night after civilian traffic controllers engaged in an unauthorised strike, according to the BBC.

The controllers are engaged in a dispute over hours and conditions. Several airports were closed last night.

Much of the country’s airspace remains closed this morning as there were not enough military controllers to take over fully from the civilian air traffic system, according to the Telegraph. National carrier Iberia has cancelled all flights from Spanish airports over the weekend.

Flight cancellations

Ryanair has cancelled all flights to and from Spanish airports, including the Canary Islands, and all Portuguese airports today. Flights are expected to operate in the morning. The airline has listed all of today’s cancellations online.

Aer Lingus advises its customers who are due to travel to Spain today to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport, and says it has activated its online free change and refund request service for people whose flights have been cancelled.

Earlier this morning, Dublin Airport sent a message on Twitter saying: “Industrial action by Spanish air traffic controllers is ongoing. Please check with your airline if you are travelling to Spain”.

Striking staff threatened with prosecution

Spain’s airport authority AENA said the decision to paralyse the air traffic was one of “extreme gravity” and the government said the walkout was unacceptable.

Introducing military control at the airports puts pressure on striking controllers to return, as they could be prosecuted under military law, with a possible 10-year prison sentence.

Spanish interior minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said that controllers who do not show up to work will immediately be placed into custody “accused of a crime which could mean serious prison sentences”, Deutsche Welle reports.

Monday and Wednesday are state holidays in Spain and this weekend was due to be one of the country’s busiest.