Further to our post below, regarding workers at Spain’s national airline, Iberia, carrying out a series of strikes which were due to start today (Fri 14th Dec); these have now been cancelled.
Unfortunately though the unions representing some of Iberia’s workers have threatened to strike again from early January, although this has not been confirmed yet.
Please keep checking our web site for further updates.
London’s Heathrow & City airports have been affected by fog, both last night and this morning, Wednesday 12th December.
The rule of thumb, as always, is check in online, alternatively you can check the status of your flight via web sites such as www.flightstats.com.
Please also bear in mind that our emergency out of hours team will be busier than usual, particularly with Heathrow affected. Our office opens at 0830 this morning and our team will do all possible to assist you at that time too.
The Met Office advises that the weather warning for fog and freezing conditions will be in place until 1100 GMT.
Frankfurt Airport yesterday cancelled 150 flights yesterday because of snowfall and warned that more cancellations could be expected today (Monday 10th December).
Both Munich and Dusseldorf are also currently experiencing similar delays this morning due to snow and wintry weather.
Please ensure that you check in online for your flight as this will provide the most up to date information on your departure.
From media reports: The Local is reporting that air traffic at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport has been grounded due to a powerful snowstorm.
Airport officials expect air traffic to remain grounded through the early afternoon, with delays persisting throughout the day.
Travellers are advised to await further information, follow developments, and to contact individual airline carriers.
Bus, metro, tram, and commuter train services in Stockholm are operating, but experiencing widespread significant delays and distruption, the news source indicated.
Snow has impacted travel in the UK
Stansted and Luton airports are now operational.
Airlines will be behind schedule due to delays.
Therefore, travellers are recommended to check the status of their flight before they go to the airport.
Snow has impacted travel in the UK
Stansted airport is currently closed.
Luton airport has just reopened following a closure due to snow fall / local conditions
Snow is falling in the midland / southern area in the UK. Therefore, travellers are recommended to check the status of their flight before they go to the airport.
The UK Met Office has issued an ice alert.
Unions representing Iberia’s ground staff and cabin crew have announced six days of strike action, to be staged before Christmas.
The dates announced for industrial action are December 14th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th & 21st.
The strikes are being held in protest at restructuring plans announced by the airline’s parent company, International Airlines Group (IAG). The plan, announced on 9 November, aims to stem the carrier’s cash losses by mid-2013 and add €600 million to profitability by 2015.
IAG says that cutting network capacity by 15% and reducing headcount by 4,500 will help it do this. At the time, Rafael Sánchez-Lozano, Iberia’s chief executive, said: “Iberia is in fight for survival. It is unprofitable in all its markets. We have to take tough decisions now to save the company and return it to profitability. Unless we take radical action to introduce permanent structural change the future for the airline is bleak. However this plan gives us a platform to turn the business around and grow.”
The leaders of five unions representing Iberia staff – UGT, CCOO, USO, Asetma and Sictpla – say they “will not be complicit in a plan that
would destroy Iberia” and have refused to negotiate with the airline’s management.
British Airways begins a new service between London Heathrow and Leeds Bradford Airport this weekend (Sunday 9th December).
The four times daily service will be operated using Airbus A319 aircraft and will operate to and from Heathrow Terminal 1. Prices will start from £55 for a one-way journey.
Please note, if you are due to travel to Italy this Thursday 29th, or Friday 30th November, that a general strike has been called by both public and private employees.
The strike will happen between 9pm on 29th November until 9pm on the 30th November. Trains, trams, ferries and planes will be affected by the strike. Also traffic wardens, employees at ticket offices and other transport workers will go on strike. The strike has been called by labour unions over government spending cuts. An additional strike has been called on the 10th December.
A word of caution though, often these strikes are called by the various unions involved, however, not all public transport operations close down completely, IE. contrary to the impression given, therefore, please also check with your local sources and if flying, please ensure you check in online.
Fly Finnair to the Far East this winter for prices (excluding airport taxes) starting from just £49 (Delhi)! Be quick though, the selling period for this offer ends on the 11th December.
Fly from either London, or Manchester to : Hong Kong SAR, China, Japan, Thailand, Singapore or India. Flights are via Helsinki, advertised as the shortcut route between Europe and Asia, due to the Trans-Siberian route flown by Finnair. There are some blackout dates, namely the Christmas holidays, but depending upon your destination, travel to some destinations is permitted right through to 30 June 2013.
Finnair is a One World alliance carrier : http://www.oneworld.com/
