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10 March 2011

Spanish airport strike chaos: The 22 dates holidaymakers must beware

UPDATE: THE PROPOSED STRIKE  WAS CALLED OFF ON MARCH 24 WHEN SPANISH AIRPORT WORKERS VOTED AGAINST THE 22 DAYS OF STRIKE ACTION, WITH 70% REPORTEDLY VOTING AGAINST THE PROPOSED STOPPAGE.

If you’re planning to fly from Britain to the Spanish sun this summer, take care – your holiday could be ruined before you even get here.
Unless planned talks between union chiefs and Spain’s development minister Jose Blanco are successful, travel chaos is set to strike over Easter, when airport ground staff are planning two 48-hour walkouts.
The planned stoppages are apparently being held to protest against the government's plans to sell off parts of Aena, the state-owned firm that runs Spain's key airports. The issue is so sensitive that three trade unions have announced a total of 22 strike days between April 20 and August 31.
Airport fire brigades, baggage handlers and runway staff are all involved in the strikes, which will also embrace Spanish bank holidays and the start and finish of the peak holiday season.
My friend Arno Otto of Murcia-based Seguro Parking tells me the travel dates to avoid are April 20, 21, 24, 25 and 30; May 2, 14, 15, 19 and 20; June 13, 23, 30, July 1, 2, 3, 4, 15 and 31 and August 1, 15 and 31.
If you’ve already booked, then it’s cross-your-fingers-and-hope time.
Will the Spanish union of misery makers settle their differences before we all start tearing our hair out? ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents, are certainly hopeful the chaos will be avoided.  A spokesman pointed out that the Spanish industrial action was "only a proposed strike", adding: "Chances are it won't go ahead."
As for me, chances are I won't be leaving Spain until September at the earliest!