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Up to 80 per cent of international flights in and out of the country could be grounded by the walkout, which has been called by unions in protest over planned austerity cuts and changes to labour laws.

Iberia has scrapped six services between Heathrow and Madrid, as well as more than 240 other flights. Vueling the low-cost carrier has cancelled flights from Heathrow to Corua and Vigo, but is operating its daily route from Heathrow to Bilbao.

Ryanair has cancelled 44, including flights from Liverpool to Ibiza, Barcelona and Palma, and from Luton to Reus.

A number of other airlines, including British Airways, have said they expect significant disruption to services.

All those passengers affected by the cancellations are entitled to a full refund, or tickets to travel on an alternative date.

Meanwhile, pilots at Iberia are 30 days of strikes from April 9, according to the SEPLA union, over the launch of the airline's no-frills off-shoot Iberia Express. Walkouts are planned on every Monday and Friday until July 20.

Iberia; Vueling; EasyJet; Ryanair; British Airways

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Spain strike causes flight cancellations

Published on Mar 29, 2012

MADRID (AFP) - A Spanish court has ordered that a probe into allegations a Saudi billionaire prince raped a model on a yacht in Ibiza three years ago be temporarily halted, according to a ruling seen by AFP Wednesday.

The case concerns Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a nephew of King Abdullah and one of world's richest men, who is being asked to respond to a complaint of sexual assault against him in August 2008 by a model who was 20 at the time.

The 57-year-old has denied the allegations. He has said he was nowhere near Ibiza at the time.

A provincial court on Palma de Majorca, the capital of the Balearic Islands, on Monday ordered a stay of proceedings in the case due to the 'contradictions and vagueness' of the alleged victim's testimony, the court ruling said.

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Spanish court halts rape probe against Saudi prince

Iberia Express (I2), Iberia's (IB) new subsidiary for short and medium-haul flights, started scheduled flights Sunday with four A320s operating from Madrid (MAD) to four destinations in Spain, despite opposition from IB mainline pilots and unions representing cabin crew.

IB pilots so far have staged 12 days of strikes since December protesting the new carrier. They announced a further 24 days of industrial action between March 16 and May 28, but this was called off after they agreed to new talks led by a government-appointed mediator (ATW Daily News, March 14).

The problem with the pilots is not solved, IB CEO Rafael Sanchez-Lozano confirmed to ATW. He declined to comment further, noting the negotiations are under government mediation.

I2's first routes are from Madrid (MAD) to Palma de Majorca, Alicante, Malaga and Seville. The network will gradually expand to 17 destinations this summer. The first international gateways are slated to be Dublin, Naples, Mikonos, Riga and Amsterdam. Other domestic destinations will include Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Granada, Minorca, Ibiza, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma.

By year end, I2 will operate 14 aircraft, all leased from IB, to over 20 destinations. The new airline is a 100%-subsidiary of IB but managed independently. It will utilize IB's maintenance and other services.

"It has not been an easy project but today is a day of birth and this has to be celebrated," Sanchez-Lozano told a press conference in Madrid Friday, stressing that I2 "will be a success story that adds value to the Iberia Group. It will restore profitability to short- and medium-haul routes, add new destinations and connections, and feed traffic to the long-haul network, where Iberia is focusing its growth strategy."

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Iberia Express takes to the skies

25 March 2012 Last updated at 04:09 ET

Spain's Iberia has launched a new entry in Europe's competitive market for low-cost airlines.

The new airline, Iberia Express, begins on Sunday with prices starting at 25 euros (21) for a one-way ticket.

Iberia Express will cover Spanish cities including Madrid and the islands such as Ibiza, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

The launch comes after Spain's fourth-largest airline Spanair collapsed in January, stranding 20,000 passengers.

Iberia is owned by the same parent company as British Airways.

The low-cost Iberia Express has 500 staff and has a fleet of four Airbus A320 aircraft, according to Iberia chief executive Luis Gallego.

"The containment of costs will allow Iberia Express to grow and compete with the low-cost operators," he said.

The new airline's website is advertising for pilots and cabin crew.

The airline will initially fly to the cities of Vigo, Santiago and Granada, as well as Menorca, Ibiza, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma.

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Spanish low-cost airline launched

By HAROLD HECKLE Associated Press

MADRID (AP) - Spanish carrier Iberia on Friday launched a new low-cost airline, Iberia Express, which aims to claim a stake in the highly competitive no-frills sector of the European market.

The new airline is part of a plan by parent company International Consolidated Airlines Group to increase profitability after the merger of its component parts, British Airways and Iberia.

Iberia Express will initially cover Vigo, Santiago and Granada on Spain's mainland and its island destinations of Menorca, Ibiza, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and La Palma. It will expand internationally to Ireland, Italy, Greece, Latvia and Netherlands, chief executive Luis Gallego said at a press conference.

"The containment of costs will allow Iberia Express to grow and compete with the low-cost operators," said Gallego, adding that although the new airline will be managed independently, it will employ Iberia's maintenance and other services.

Inaugural flights will take off Sunday, although the company's website was not up and running Friday afternoon. Prices begin at 25 ($33) one-way with a surcharge for checking in luggage and booking seats in advance.

The new company employs 500 staff and has a fleet of four Airbus 320 planes, although there are plans to increase this to 14 aircraft by the end of the year and up 40 by 2015.

The airline is the subject of a protracted labor dispute between Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA and Spain's main pilots' union, Sepla - which held 12 days of work stoppages in December and January to protest the low-cost airline.

Sepla pilots argue Iberia Express would mean job losses among the 1,600 pilots who work for the main airline - a claim disputed by Iberia.

Sepla had announced nine days of strikes in April and May but called them off following government mediation and has agreed to negotiate further with Iberia.

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Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsSpain's Iberia unveils low cost Iberia Express