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Anyone flying with easyJet over the next couple of days is being advised to keep a close eye on their emails, as the strike organised by the airline’s cabin crew has already resulted in the cancellation of more than 100 flights. While the current bout of work stoppages is only scheduled to last three days, the USO union is threatening more disruption in August if its demands aren’t met.

 

Before 6pm on the second day of the strike, Thursday June 26, easyJet had to axe 68 flights to and from its four Spanish bases in Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Barcelona and Alicante.

 

The protest, which began on June 26 and continues this Friday June 27, is against what the USO union claims are unfairly low salaries of easyJet’s flight crew in Spain.

 

The union is demanding wage increases that bring their salaries in line with those of their colleagues in other European countries. The first day of strike, held this Wednesday June 25, forced the cancellation of 53 flights - 62 according to the union.

 

On Thursday, twelve flights were cancelled at Malaga Airport, eighteen at Barcelona Airport, 26 at Palma Airport and eight at Alicante Airport.

 

But there’s a more worrying development for passengers. To try and reduce the impact of the strike, Spain’s Ministry of Transport has imposed minimum service levels. These require easyJet to operate between 81% and 90% of its scheduled flights during the strike, depending on the airport.

 

However, union sources told the press that even some of these supposedly guaranteed flights have been cancelled as cabin crew rostered to work are calling in sick.

 

What this will mean for Friday’s flights, and the knock-on effect it could have over the weekend, remains to be seen, but passengers are strongly urged to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport.

 

 

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