Iberia and SEPLA, the pilot’s union, have returned to the negotiating table in an attempt to avoid the strike planned for this Friday. Talks last week ended without an agreement being reached.
The unions called the industrial action, which has so far affected around 12,000 passengers, in protest at Iberia’s plans to set up a low cost airline, Iberia Express.
Iberia say that the creation of Iberia Express is not negotiable and that this move will save the company €100 million per year. Iberia Express is expected to start in March 2012 and according to the company, they have received over 1,200 job applications from pilots since last Friday.