Avoid Spanish air traffic control strike, says IATA

By on Aug 11, 2010

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has urged AENA, the Spanish air navigation service provider, and the Spanish air traffic controllers to take all measures possible to avoid strike action

Specifically, IATA's director general & CEO Giovanni Bisignani has urged Spain's air traffic controllers to accept AENA's offer to enter into an arbitration process to resolve their differences and avoid debilitating disruption to Spain's economy

"The global financial crisis and Europe's ongoing debt crisis are challenging governments, employers and employees to change in order to build stronger and more robust economies," said Bisignani, adding that, with 20% unemployment and a weak economy, Spain can ill afford the devastating effects of an air traffic control strike

"When much of Europe's air space closed for a few days as a result of the ash crisis, airlines lost $18 billion in revenue and the cost to economy is estimated at over $5 billion Even the threat of a strike is seeing people changing plans to avoid Spanish destinations, airports and airspace That's lost money for the economy and puts Spanish jobs at risk," said Bisignani

After decades of discussion, Europe is finally moving forward with some key elements of the Single European Sky Uniting Europe's air space is critical Each year, the efficiencies generated will save more than €5 billion in costs, reduce delays by millions of minutes and reduce CO2 emissions by sixteen million tonnes

Many of the changes under contention between AENA and the air traffic controllers are associated with the preparations for Spain to benefit from the Single European Sky

"Over the last decade, every industry has been challenged to change and to improve efficiency Airlines improved productivity by 63% but, as the bankruptcy of Mexicana proves, the industry is fragile and even more change is needed," said Bisignani, adding that AENA too must change to ensure that Spain has cost-efficient air connectivity to power its economy, and the burden of this change includes the air traffic controllers