Spain's air traffic completely blocked by furious air controllers
Dec 3rd, 2010, 10:48 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Spain's air traffic completely blocked by furious air controllers
What a mess. Will give more details once I read up on this. Hope the damage is as little as possible but with this huge holiday weekend, it is perfect timing to make a point. Seems the government has passed a law they are not in agreement with.
Hopefully tomorrow something will have been cleared up.
Hopefully tomorrow something will have been cleared up.
Dec 3rd, 2010, 11:07 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
STo put it simply....
The government are thinking about bringing in the army
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...8589102715.htm
and the AVE trains are going to be working a bit harder
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...5845153867.htm
They have not gone on strike they all went home sick!
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...6398834434.htm
Note the phone number to call. I bet that will be busy!
The government are thinking about bringing in the army
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...8589102715.htm
and the AVE trains are going to be working a bit harder
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...5845153867.htm
They have not gone on strike they all went home sick!
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...6398834434.htm
Note the phone number to call. I bet that will be busy!
Dec 3rd, 2010, 12:27 PM
#4
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The latest from Iberia:
Air space over Madrid, the Canary Islands and Majorca...
03.12.10
Due to the labour conflict of the air traffic controllers in Spain, the air space over these three regions is closed.
Iberia cancels all flights departing from Spain until tomorrow at 11 am...
03.12.10
Clients are kindly requested not to go to the airport
Air space over Madrid, the Canary Islands and Majorca...
03.12.10
Due to the labour conflict of the air traffic controllers in Spain, the air space over these three regions is closed.
Iberia cancels all flights departing from Spain until tomorrow at 11 am...
03.12.10
Clients are kindly requested not to go to the airport
Dec 4th, 2010, 12:22 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
revulgo... doesn't look that way..
I don't know how Ronald reagan did it . but hopefully Spain can follow suit. They should be connected to the military in some way, either by an obedience clause, or whatever, since nowadays this is one of the easiest ways to destroy the country's commerce, tourism and reliability image.
I don't know how Ronald reagan did it . but hopefully Spain can follow suit. They should be connected to the military in some way, either by an obedience clause, or whatever, since nowadays this is one of the easiest ways to destroy the country's commerce, tourism and reliability image.
Dec 4th, 2010, 12:42 AM
#8
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The situation this morning is.
The government passed a law last night to take control of the air space using the military. What were civil air controllers are now working for the Ministry of Defence.
There is no public sympathy with the air controllers as they complain about this or that. This strike, but they do not call it that, is illegal under Spanish law.
They stopped working over a long public holiday weekend here in Spain.
All air space will be closed until 13.00 hrs of the 4 December.2010.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...6398834434.htm
Trains are fully booked and some of the extra trains do not have toilets...hell on earth maybe?
The government passed a law last night to take control of the air space using the military. What were civil air controllers are now working for the Ministry of Defence.
There is no public sympathy with the air controllers as they complain about this or that. This strike, but they do not call it that, is illegal under Spanish law.
They stopped working over a long public holiday weekend here in Spain.
All air space will be closed until 13.00 hrs of the 4 December.2010.
http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/espana/...6398834434.htm
Trains are fully booked and some of the extra trains do not have toilets...hell on earth maybe?
Dec 4th, 2010, 01:33 AM
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
what inopportune timing on part of the gov't to announce their new decree.. seems ZP may have smelled something as he cancelled his attendance in SAmerica to be near home during this economic crisis. Coincidence?
Never been so glad as to not have taken a trip during this beautiful, long tempting weekend.
We are communicating with several groups of friends stranded.. really sequestered. Not much anyone can do but wait and see if your flight is one of the lucky ones to get out as soon as the block is lifted.
Never been so glad as to not have taken a trip during this beautiful, long tempting weekend.
We are communicating with several groups of friends stranded.. really sequestered. Not much anyone can do but wait and see if your flight is one of the lucky ones to get out as soon as the block is lifted.
Dec 4th, 2010, 02:47 AM
#10
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,017
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ah, the good old days. ;-) Put them in prison for a few years for insubordination or execute them on the spot. 
I'm looking forward to the first air traffic controller in jail and the general reaction to it.
I'm looking forward to the first air traffic controller in jail and the general reaction to it.
Dec 4th, 2010, 04:24 AM
#11
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My local newspaper is reporting that the airport of Oporto is near to collapse. They have taken so many planes that it is impossible for passengers to disembark. Next question is ---Then how do you get to Spain?
Dec 4th, 2010, 05:51 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
air space now open. hopefully in a couple days this will get back to normal.
This certainly does show a country's weak points. We should be better protected against this type of situation.
This certainly does show a country's weak points. We should be better protected against this type of situation.
Dec 4th, 2010, 06:17 AM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,298
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just saw the pictures... so reminiscent of my own experience with the wildcat strike at Prat airport in 2006. What a disgrace.
No need to put in jail or execute, just fire them! Not the first time in aviation history, it has been done.
No need to put in jail or execute, just fire them! Not the first time in aviation history, it has been done.
Dec 5th, 2010, 07:21 AM
#18
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,911
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ronald Reagan gave the union air traffic controllers 48 hours to return to work when they went on illegal strike in August 1981. 11,500 called his bluff. He fired them all. Their union was fined and some of the leaders were thrown in jail. Eventually the union went out of existence.
