Iberia Express Forced to Cancel 92 Flights as Cabin Crew Stage Strike Action Over Low Pay Allegations

The USO union, which represents cabin crew at the mainline airline, called for a 10-day strike that resulted in the cancellation of 92 flights.

More than 1,100 passengers were affected by the cancellation of at least eight flights on the first day of the strike. At least 178 passengers have yet to make a decision, despite the fact that the vast majority of affected passengers had been rebooking onto alternative flights the same day.

The majority of Iberia Express flights will continue as usual during the strike period which lasts until the end of September.

The minimum services regulations in Spain require cabin crew to show up to work on flights that connect underserved or isolated destinations. Almost all of Sunday's scheduled services were protected by the minimum services regulations.

The USO union decided to walk out after they said that Iberia Express didn't want to improve the working conditions. The airline has only offered options that are far from reality according to the union.

The management of Iberia Express has had the chance to negotiate and bring realistic proposals but has preferred to use passengers as hostages.

There was no progress made in the last-ditch attempt to reach a deal that would prevent the strike from happening. The cabin crew has not received a raise in seven years.

In 2012 the lower operating cost subsidiary of Iberia was created as Iberia Express. Within Spain and across Europe, Iberia Express flies to around 40 destinations.

A spokesman for Iberia Express apologized for the situation on Sunday.

We call on USO, the union that calls for the strike, to call off the strikes and bet on dialogue and not on social confrontation, which does so much damage to Iberia Express workers, their customers and the company's future.

As an international flight attendant, Maszczynski worked at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying for a well-known European airline. He is an expert in passenger experience and human-centered stories. Some of the biggest names in journalism rely on Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage often.