Thousands more passengers hit by Iberia strikes

Iberia had said it has found alternatives for nearly 38,000 customers affected by the latest week-long strike by disgruntled workers.

The Spanish carrier said 40,000 travellers were affected by the strikes which are running from yesterday until March 8.

It said new travel dates or refunds will be offered to the 2,000 passengers it was unable to accommodate.

Iberia urged passengers to download boarding passes from its website, www.iberia.com to avoid queuing at airports and said customers downloading boarding passes to their phones would have priority access to security control.

Nearly 1,300 flights have been grounded with the strikes affecting Iberia, Vueling, Air Nostrum and Iberia Express.

The February and March strikes are the biggest in the airline's history and cost IAG 3 million euros a day, chief executive of Iberia's parent company IAG, Willie Walsh said, while also causing disruption to other airlines.

Staff are protesting against the loss of 4,500 jobs and salary cuts.

Unions for Iberia staff have launched a scathing attack on Willie Walsh.

The International Transport Workers' Federation said Walsh, CEO of Iberia's parent IAG, has turned not just the entire airline against him but "it looks like, an entire country against him" see previous story.

However the TravelMole Poll tells a different story. When asked 'Willie Walsh - positive or negative force in travel ?', the result was almost unanimous.

91% said a positive force while only 9% said negative.

Unite union's general secretary, Len McLuskey, said he was backing Iberia staff with a giant banner outside the union's office in London Heathrow Airport - reading Déjà vu Willie Walsh, IAG: We are all Iberia, IAG: Iberia somos todos .

He added: "If Willie Walsh thinks British Airways staff will keep quiet while he attacks their colleagues in Iberia he is wrong. We all support those threatened by Walsh's reckless plans. The message from Britain to IAG is clear: We are all Iberia."

Further strikes by Iberia staff are planned for March 18-22.