This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11917664

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
'Thousands' of British passengers stranded in Spain 'Thousands' of UK passengers await flights out of Spain
(about 3 hours later)
Thousands of Britons are thought to be stranded after Spanish air traffic controllers called in sick en masse in a protest over hours and conditions. Thousands of Britons remain stranded in Spain despite air traffic controllers there ending a wildcat strike.
A state of emergency has been declared and the Spanish military have been ordered to fill the gap left by the walkout. Up to 20,000 UK passengers are thought to have been affected by the unofficial walk-out which led to flights in and out of the country being cancelled.
Some air traffic controllers have begun returning to work in Barcelona and Madrid. Ryanair, easyJet and Iberia have scrapped all Spanish flights until Sunday, but British Airways has reinstated its schedule.
But around 20,000 Britons are believed to be still stranded. Passengers are being advised to contact their airline before travelling.
The state of emergency gives the Spanish government emergency powers to force the air traffic controllers back to work. Flights to and from Spain were cancelled at a number of London airports including a total of 70 out of 560 at Gatwick, 42 at Stansted, and 22 at Heathrow.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: "The Civil Aviation Authority will be in touch with the Spanish authorities to see how long it's going to last." Earlier, the Spanish government declared a "state of alarm" and threatened workers with prison terms after they called in sick en masse.
He said if the strike lasted more than a couple of days he would be asking airlines and tour operators to organise road transport to bring the Britons home. 'No warning'
National carrier Iberia has cancelled all flights from Spanish airports until 0500 GMT on Sunday and EasyJet has cancelled all flights to and from Spain, Portugal and Morocco for the rest of Saturday. The Spanish military was ordered to fill the gap left by the walkout as the government shut down eight airports, including Madrid.
EasyJet has offered a free transfer to another date or a complete refund. Four airports in the Canary Islands were also shut as well as airports in Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca and Menorca.
An EasyJet spokesman said: "Whilst the circumstances are outside of the airline's control, easyJet apologises for any inconvenience caused and can reassure passengers that we are doing everything possible to continue to operate services as normal." Spanish air traffic control agency Aena confirmed airspace had reopened on Saturday afternoon. Around a third of staff are thought to have returned to work.
href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/spain" >The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice on Spain and a spokesman said anyone planning to travel there this weekend should check with their airline before travelling to the airport. An Aena spokesman said strikers who walked out on Friday had returned in sufficient numbers to make it safe for planes to leave.
In a statement, BAA, which runs Heathrow, Stansted and Glasgow airports, said: "Spanish airspace is closed so we advise anyone travelling to Spain today to stay home and check with their airline directly as planes will not be landing there today. Travel association Abta said thousands of British passengers were stuck despite it being a fairly quiet time of year.
"Flights to other destinations using Spanish airspace are being re-routed and we are currently not seeing any major disruption." "There have been widespread cancellations. Customers due to travel out today need to keep in contact with their airline or tour operator," spokesman Sean Tipton said.
British Airways and Ryanair have cancelled all their flights and cannot rebook people with other carriers. He said customers yet to travel to Spain would be given the option to rebook their flights or offered a refund.
Sean Tipton of Abta said airlines had a legal duty to look after passengers who were unable to return home. Tour operators were making efforts to reschedule flights for those on package holidays, he added.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said the industrial action had been unexpected.
"We had no advance warning of this action in Spain. Clearly the airports are in any case suffering from delays and disruption due to bad weather," he said.
Passenger, Keith Beevor, from Penrith in Cumbria has been stranded at Alicante since last Thursday.Passenger, Keith Beevor, from Penrith in Cumbria has been stranded at Alicante since last Thursday.
He told the BBC: "We have no idea how long we will be waiting for."He told the BBC: "We have no idea how long we will be waiting for."
He said he and his wife checked into the Alicante airport on Thursday evening but were later told to take their bags and check into a hotel.He said he and his wife checked into the Alicante airport on Thursday evening but were later told to take their bags and check into a hotel.
He returned to the airport on Friday but has still not got on a plane.He returned to the airport on Friday but has still not got on a plane.
He said: "People are quite calm at the moment. But things might change if it's a long time before we can get away."He said: "People are quite calm at the moment. But things might change if it's a long time before we can get away."
Paul Wileman, who has been working on a telecommunications contract for the last nine months, was due to fly back to the UK from Madrid.Paul Wileman, who has been working on a telecommunications contract for the last nine months, was due to fly back to the UK from Madrid.
He said: "I was actually sitting on the plane ready to push back when the captain announced there would be no flights in or out. Obviously the plane was full of passengers, some with their young children.He said: "I was actually sitting on the plane ready to push back when the captain announced there would be no flights in or out. Obviously the plane was full of passengers, some with their young children.
"We waited for over an hour before the flight was cancelled. There was no accommodation left in Madrid, and we have no idea when we can get out."We waited for over an hour before the flight was cancelled. There was no accommodation left in Madrid, and we have no idea when we can get out.
"Fortunately, a family member back home booked a hotel room for me so I am fine.""Fortunately, a family member back home booked a hotel room for me so I am fine."
Mr Wileman said he had booked another flight for Saturday but added: "I'll just have to see what happens. I feel a bit calmer now, but I do think this strike is completely unacceptable." href="http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/europe/spain" >The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice on Spain and a spokesman said anyone planning to travel there this weekend should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.
Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba warned that if the action continued on Saturday, the government would declare a state of emergency, forcing air traffic controllers to return to work or face criminal prosecution. The walk-out came after Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero approved a plans to partially privatise airports, which followed an existing dispute about working hours.
"If a controller does not show up to his work place he will be placed immediately in custody accused of a crime which could mean serious prison sentences," he said.
Madrid's Barajas airport was one of the first to be affected, along with airports in Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca in the Balearic Islands and in Tenerife.
Abta spokesman Sean Tipton said passengers' right were the same as during the ash cloud crisis in April.
"The airline has a responsibility to get you home and to provide food and overnight accommodation in the mean time.
"In most cases the airlines will be organising that themselves but if they don't the advice is to keep all your receipts and claim it back when you get home," he said.
Juan Ignacio Lema, the chief of the airport operators, Aena, told the controllers to "stop blackmailing the Spanish people".
The air traffic controllers were already involved in a dispute about their working hours, but were further angered by austerity measures passed by the government on Friday which would partially privatise the country's airports.
Are you at any of the striking airports in Spain? Has the disruption affected your travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you at any of the striking airports in Spain? Has the disruption affected your travel plans? Send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditionsRead the terms and conditions