BRITS are set to face more disruption to their holidays as 14 airports in Spain begin indefinite strikes.
Major airports across the country will face industrial action starting on April 17, as air traffic controller unions stage a walk-out which will see flights delayed or even cancelled.
The action has been called by the unions USCA and CCOO which affects air traffic controllers operated by Saerco.
As many as 14 airports across Spain, including those in the Canary Islands, face disruption.
On the Canaries, this includes major airports in Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro.
The strikes affect mainland stops too; Jerez de la Frontera, La Coruña, Madrid-Cuatro Vientos, Vigo and Seville.
Other airports in Castellón, Burgos, Huesca and Ciudad Real will also experience industrial action.
These airports see thousands of passengers pass through each day – so the disruption will affect millions.
Spain is one of the most popular destinations for British holidaymakers and experts have said tourism numbers could hit 100million this year.
The Spanish authorities have the power to impose minimum service levels as air traffic control is considered essential – so not every flight will be cancelled.
However, there are warnings of potential delays, last-minute schedule changes as well as cancellations and missed connections as a result.
The bad news is that air traffic controller unions have indicated that the strike action will be ‘indefinite’ so it isn’t clear when it will end.
To add to the chaos, there have been reports of hour-long queues at airports waiting to register with EES over the last week.
At Palma Majorca Airport in Spain, there were reports of queues “between two and three hours” at passport control on April 11.
Meanwhile, Lanzarote Airport has had three-hour long queues to register with EES.
The new requirement was officially rolled out last week which led to huge queues at border control – some passengers even missed their flight.
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
For more on Spain, here’s one airport to CLOSE for over a month with all flights cancelled – thousands of Brits set to be impacted.
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