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Fallout from last week's air traffic control strike continues

featured in News & reviews Author Nicola Henderson, Site Editor Updated

The blame game between the Spanish airport authority AENA and the union of air traffic controllers for the massive disruption to flights to and from Spain last week continues to run, after the union claimed they were not to blame for the shut down of Spanish air space. The air traffic controllers staged a walk out last Friday afternoon with no warning to the authorities, ruining hundreds of thousands of passengers travel plans.

Majorca, along with the Canary Islands, were particularly badly hit by the strike, with no alternative transportation to reach mainland Europe except for the ferry. The Mallorcan Hotel Federation have said that they will be taking legal action against the air traffic controllers in an attempt to recover some of the losses they endured as a result of the unauthorised strike. They will also be supporting any government led action against the union.

Palma de Mallorca's airport has received 1,026 claims for compensation since last Friday. This exceeds the number received when the Icelandic volcano caused huge disruption to European airspace earlier this year. On the mainland, Spanish law firm Cremades & Calvo Sotelo are representing a group of 5000 passengers affected by the strike, and they have announced that they will be seeking $10,000 compensation for each passenger from AENA.