SPAIN: Delays were experienced by some air passengers departing Ireland for Spain yesterday as a result of Spain's general strike.
Two Falcon/JWT Holiday flights from Shannon and Dublin to Lanzarote were delayed for about 45 minutes.
Aer Tours had one scheduled flight to Lanzarote and it was delayed for half an hour. Fears that passengers on the return leg of the flight might have to travel home without their luggage, because baggage handlers were also on strike, proved unfounded.
The travel arrangements of most Irish holidaymakers due to travel to Spanish resorts yesterday were changed in advance to avoid the chaos.
Both Budget Travel and Falcon/JWT rearranged flights scheduled for yesterday. As a result some customers flew to their destinations a day early while others flew out a day late.
In addition, some Irish tourists who were due to return from Spanish resorts yesterday will not be able to return until today. Budget Travel and Falcon/JWT have said they will cover the cost of their extra night in Spain.
Passengers who booked sun holidays to Spanish resorts with Sunway Holidays and Panorama were not affected as they had no scheduled flights yesterday.
An Iberian airways flight to Barcelona from Dublin yesterday was cancelled. But Aer Lingus said its four scheduled flights from Dublin to Spain were not affected by the strike.
Mr Tony Brazil, president of the Irish Travel Agents' Association, said the contingency plans put in place by tour operators had worked well. Private cars were hired in Spain to take passengers from their hotels to airports and vice versa, he said. "Great efforts were made to minimise inconvenience," he said.