Iberia starts 2024 by canceling a total of 444 flights due to ground staff strike between January 5 – 8, 2024. The canceled flights affect close to 46,000 passengers who have been ticketed to travel on Iberia (270 cancellations),...
Iberia starts 2024 by canceling a total of 444 flights due to ground staff strike between January 5 – 8, 2024.
The canceled flights affect close to 46,000 passengers who have been ticketed to travel on Iberia (270 cancellations), Iberia Express (64 cancellations), and Air Nostrum (110 cancellations).
You can access Iberia here.
Iberia’s Press Release (Translation from Spanish to English):
Iberia makes the conditions of its flights more flexible to facilitate changes and refunds for customers affected by the Reyes strike
The strike forces the cancellation of 444 flights scheduled by Iberia, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum for the four days of strikes. The Iberia Group will offer other travel options to relocate the 45,641 affected travelers In addition, from today you can request date modifications or a refund of the amount of tickets reserved for January 5, 6, 7 and 8 Iberia will try to operate practically all long-haul flights and as many European and domestic flights as possible. Iberia asks all travelers to check-in in advance through the website and to arrive at the airport with more time than usualThe strike called by the unions for January 5, 6, 7 and 8, coinciding with the Three Kings holiday and the return of thousands of people to their places of work or residence, forces the cancellation of 444 flights. These are 270 from Iberia, 64 from Iberia Express and 110 Air Nostrum .
The companies will offer the best possible alternatives to the 45,641 passengers affected by the cancellations so that they can make their trips. In the coming days, as soon as possible, travelers will be informed of the possibilities of relocation to other flights .
Regarding Iberia flights, the company plans to operate 836 flights, 76% of the total 1,106 scheduled. Among the flights it plans to operate are practically all long-haul flights (including those of LEVEL). Of the 270 Iberia flight cancellations, 51% will be domestic flights and 49% will be European flights .
Iberia Express will operate 88% of its flights and Air Nostrum 72% .
In any case, passengers who have affected flights booked for January 5, 6, 7 or 8 can request from today a change of date in their trip or a refund of the amount paid for the tickets. Customers with flights not directly affected by the strike may change the date of travel or request a voucher.
Changes can be made through the Iberia website, the travel agencies where the purchase was made or the company’s Customer Service Center, which will reinforce its staff, although you may have more waiting time usual. The telephone number to call from Spain is 900 111 500. The numbers to be attended from outside our country can be consulted on the Iberia website.
Given the foreseeable problems that will occur at the airports due to the strike, Iberia asks all passengers to check-in in advance through the website and to arrive at the airports more time than usual.
Iberia thanks all its customers for their understanding and apologizes for the inconvenience caused by the strike.
Iberia’s Information to Passengers:
Relaxed conditions due to strike action at Spanish airports on 5, 6, 7 and 8 January.
Iberia is relaxing the conditions of its flights to facilitate changes and refunds for customers affected by the strike action announced at national airports on 5, 6, 7 and 8 January 2024.
We are working to minimise the impact of this disruption, which will lead to the cancellation of 461 flights: 270 operated by Iberia, 64 by Iberia Express, and 127 by Air Nostrum.
If you have booked a flight that may be affected, please enter your contact details in Booking management so that we can send you updates about your trip through the Iberia conecta service.
In any case, passengers who have booked flights that will be affected by strike action on 5, 6, 7 or 8 January can request a date change or refund of the amount paid for their tickets as from today in Booking management. Customers whose flights are not directly affected by the strike can change the date of their trip or request a voucher.
You can check whether your flight allows you to change the dates or process your voucher directly through Booking management. If not and your flight is scheduled for the next 48 hours, please call our Customer Service.
Online check-in and information about flight arrivals and departures
In view of the foreseeable disruption at airports due to strike action, Iberia kindly asks all passengers to check in online in advance through the website and arrive at their departure airport earlier than usual.
We recommend that you check the status of your flight in Arrivals and Departures before you go to the airport.
Iberia thanks all customers for their patience and apologises for any inconvenience caused by the strike.
Iberia conveniently forgets that they are bound by the EC 261/2004 legislation that requires them to rebook affected passengers on other airlines and to provide a duty of care in case of long delays (accommodation & food).
If Iberia has canceled your flight, you can either have them rebook you on another airline, accept an alternate flight at some other date, or get a refund.
Iberia’s List of Cancelled Flights:
Conclusion
This strike was originally going to take place right now (December 29 – 31) but was postponed due to ongoing negotiations that have now broken down, and it seems inevitable that the strike will go forward.
Passengers who have had their flight canceled should check what rebooking options are available and remember that these flights don’t need to be operated by Iberia, but they are required to rebook on others as well, such as Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France.