MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pilots end strike and Iberia takes off again

Pilots from Spanish flag air carrier Iberia agreed to end a three days strike which forced the company to cancel over 200 flights daily, announced Wednesday the Spanish government.

The pilots union went on industrial action last Monday to protest Iberia's project to begin a low cost company Catair next October which allegedly would have an impact in job stability and incomes.

However in spite of the strike the union and Iberia's representatives kept up negotiations with daily meetings to discuss the pilots' demands. Pilots were particularly insistent on guarantees that the new undertaking would not mean job cuts.

Iberia's spokesperson Jaime Pérez Guerra said that talks went on all Tuesday night and well into Wednesday morning. The agreement was to be signed sometime Wednesday to ensure a quick return to normality.

Other sources said that Iberia's intent to have the strike declared illegal by the Judiciary speeded negotiations.

The strike which was originally scheduled to last until next Sunday was proving very damaging since it is high season when Spain is visited by millions of tourists.

Iberia estimated a week's strike cost in 35 million Euros plus having left stranded 200.000 regular travellers.