SPAIN (Agencies) A total of 3,362 flights took off or landed until 10pm last night, 82.8% of those scheduled. 97% of air traffic controllers returned to work after a wildcat strike that not only caused chaos throughout Europe and the rest of the world, but which was also roundly condemned by the media worldwide. The country's main airports - Madrid (photo), Barcelona, Balearics, Sevilla and the Canaries - were working at full schedule this morning. Airports in Andalucia are fully back to normal; only one cancellation occurred at Malaga. The 'state of alarm' declared on Saturday by the government lasts for 15 days but can be renewed after a vote by congress. Some union leaders have said 'there is always Christmas', creating uncertainty about the possibility of further walk-outs towards the end of this month. However, several media pundits have suggested that the ill-will created by this last strike among some of the highest-paid public servants at a time of 20% unemployment, would probably preclude any further such action.>
The tourism industry has calculated that the strike has cost it over €250 million, according to its federation, AEDAVE. Travel agencies classify this weekend as the most important puente (long weekend) of the year and the figures refer to what most of Spain's resorts have not taken as income, including, hotels, restaurants and transport, with some 600,000 tourists impacted directly or indirectly at the country's tourist centres such as the Balearics, Canaries and Andalucia.
Minister for Development Jose Blanco, to which the airports authority AENA depends, announced yesterday that his ministry had issued 442 expedientes (disciplinary reports) against striking controllers, which could result in anything from immediate dismissal to suspension of employment and salary.
Parallel to the disciplinary measures being taken, there is also a judicial investigation by the Public Prosecutor, as well as several dozens of private suits being prepared against the controllers' union as well as their employer, AENA.
The tourism industry has calculated that the strike has cost it over €250 million, according to its federation, AEDAVE. Travel agencies classify this weekend as the most important puente (long weekend) of the year and the figures refer to what most of Spain's resorts have not taken as income, including, hotels, restaurants and transport, with some 600,000 tourists impacted directly or indirectly at the country's tourist centres such as the Balearics, Canaries and Andalucia.
Minister for Development Jose Blanco, to which the airports authority AENA depends, announced yesterday that his ministry had issued 442 expedientes (disciplinary reports) against striking controllers, which could result in anything from immediate dismissal to suspension of employment and salary.
Parallel to the disciplinary measures being taken, there is also a judicial investigation by the Public Prosecutor, as well as several dozens of private suits being prepared against the controllers' union as well as their employer, AENA.
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