Latest news with #EasyJet
Metro
8 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
British holidaymakers in Spain face summer of strikes by hospitality staff
British holidaymakers may find their getaways thrown into chaos amid a summer of planned strike action at popular Spanish destinations. Hospitality sector workers in the Balearic Islands have threatened to walk out from July 10 after talks broke down over pay increases. A total of 180,000 workers in hotels, restaurants and other tourist spots – a majority of those employed in the sector on the islands – are set to strike. It comes amid a wave of other industrial action as well as protests against over-tourism across Spain. The main flash point in negotiations with unions is a 17 per cent pay rise demanded by unions. So far workers have been offered a salary bump of 8.5 per cent. The latest announcement of strike action comes despite an eleventh-hour deal reached with hotel workers to avoid a walkout in four of the Canary Islands including Tenerife. Further strikes in Majorca, Ibiza and Formentera will affect all bars, restaurants, cafes and night spots may go ahead on July 18, 19, 25 and 31. The UGT union is also demanding several other reforms to working practices, including a 35-hour working week and to increase the duration of seasonal fixed-term contracts from six to nine months a year. UGT spokesperson Jose Garcia Relucio branded concessions made at Thursday's talks as 'more crumbs', MailOnline reported. The union said that despite entering the negotiations to improve conditions for workers, the meeting had ended with several agreed reforms rolled back. However the Majorca Hotel Business Federation blamed UGT for a creating a poor negotiating environment and failing to listen to its reasons for not meeting its demands. Its vice-president, María José Aguiló, said: 'We have reached a point where, despite the fact we have been willing to address the issue of guaranteed employment for fixed-term contracts, they have not listened to our reasons for not raising the proposed [salary] increase.' Holidaymakers have already been disrupted this week after EasyJet cabin crew in Spain went on strike from Wednesday, impacting dozens of flights to popular destinations including Malaga, Barcelona and Alicante. A total of 62 flights were cancelled with the airline to and from Spain on Thursday, the second day of action. More Trending The USO union has not ruled out a further indefinite strike if its demands its members to be paid equal to EasyJet employees in other countries are not met. Earlier this month, thousands marched across Spain to tell Brits to 'go home' amid concerns over unsustainable tourism at favourite holiday spots. A demonstration in Palma de Majorca saw protesters carry placards in front of beleaguered tourists reading: 'Mallorca is not your cash cow… go home' and 'your holidays, our anxiety'. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Europe hit by deadly heatwave with temperatures over 40C in holiday hotspots MORE: Brit at centre of Oldham striker fight in Ibiza pool speaks out MORE: British woman killed walking past Spanish bar when it exploded
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
The big change affecting European travel
The days of being charged additional fees for your hand luggage on flights could soon be a thing of the past – at least in the European Union. On 24 June, lawmakers voted in favour of a proposal allowing passengers to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg (15.4lbs) on board their flight free of charge, even on budget airlines. Under the new rule, which could take effect as early as July 2025, travellers would be allowed to bring one cabin bag measuring up to 100cm on board their flight, as well as an under-the-seat personal item with a maximum size of 40x30x15cm at no additional cost. The proposed law still requires approval from 55% of EU member states, but if adopted, the new rules would extend to all flights within the EU, as well as routes to and from the EU. "Today's vote marks an important step toward fairer and more transparent travel," vice-chair of the EU Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Matteo Ricci said in a press statement. "[It introduces] concrete measures such as the clear definition of free hand luggage … a fundamental right to avoid unjustified extra costs." Previously, EU-based budget airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, Wizz and others often charged substantial fees for hand luggage, depending on its size and weight. As a result, Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry fined five budget airlines €179m (£149m) for what it deemed "abusive practices" in November 2024. The Spanish ruling, along with pressure from consumer rights associations and passengers, has paved the way for the EU to push for what it considers fairer and more consistent hand luggage rules. The carry-on proposal is part of a larger effort by the European Parliament to increase protections and rights for travellers. To ensure that families can sit together without incurring additional costs, lawmakers also voted to prohibit airlines from imposing seat selection charges for children aged 12 and under. Lawmakers also want to change the way companies handle compensation and reimbursement requests by requiring ticket vendors or third-party retailers to inform passengers of the full cost of their flight at the time of booking – including intermediation or service fees – as well as the reimbursement process. Officials also want to ensure that travellers in the EU aren't just entitled to compensation when airline delays cause them to miss their connecting flights, but also when a delay causes them to miss their connection on another mode of transport (an airport bus, for instance) when the ticket is purchased through one operator. While the new proposals may seem like a victory for passengers, not everyone is in favour of enacting them into law. Airline industry representatives are strongly opposed to waiving hand luggage fees, saying that the cost of the bag will be folded into overall prices, making them higher for everyone in the long run. Critics suggest that the new rules essentially force travellers to bring along hand luggage, since the cost will be baked into their ticket with no opportunity to opt out. "Europe's airline market is built on choice. Forcing a mandatory trolley bag strips passengers of that choice and obliges passengers to pay for services they may not want or need," said Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of Airlines For Europe, Europe's largest airline association, in a statement. "What's next? Mandatory popcorn and drinks as part of your cinema ticket? The European Parliament should let travellers decide what services they want, what services they pay for and, importantly, what services they don't." -- For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
ITV News
17 hours ago
- ITV News
How could European summer strikes affect your holiday?
A series of summer strikes in Europe affecting flights, trains and hotels are threatening to derail British holidaymakers' trips. Ongoing strikes across mainland Europe are likely to cause delays and even cancellations, and travellers are being warned to plan accordingly to avoid the worse of the disruption. ITV News has the latest planned or anticipated strike action in Europe holidaymakers. Spain EasyJet cabin crew in Spain called a strike for June 25, 26, and 27, and the union have warned there could be an indefinite strike from August if meaningful negotiations do not take place. About 60 Easyjet flights were cancelled every day in Spain during the most recent strike action. Cabin crew for the budget airline say they earn the lowest crew wages in Europe and are demanding equal pay. Holiday accommodation in parts of Spain will also be affected if planned industrial action goes ahead. Hotel workers in the Balearics are scheduled to strike in July after negotiations broke down over disagreements on wage increases, sick pay and contract lengths. Approximately 180,000 workers are being called to strike for six days from July 10-16 , and the additional dates of July 18, 19, 25, 26 and 31. If the strikes go ahead, services such as housekeeping, lifeguard, room service, restaurants and buffets could be disrupted. Italy There will be a number of rail and airport strikes in Italy during the summer holiday season. A nationwide rail strike will be held from 9pm Monday July 7 to 6pm Tuesday July 8. The strike action will affect long-distance, regional and commuter routes, meaning travellers should expect a reduction in services and longer wait times. However, Italian law requires a minimum number of guaranteed train services during weekday strikes, so the rail routes will not be grinding to a halt. Regional public transport walkouts are also expected in Sicily, Palermo and Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta during July, so check before you travel. Air travel could be disrupted on July 10 as ground staff and baggage handlers at several Italian airports take part in a 24-hour strike. Baggage handling will be affected at Milan Linate, Milan Malpensa, and Venice Marco Polo airports. Drivers at Milan airports will also be walking out. Additional protests are also expected at Cagliari Elmas airport on the island of Sardinia, and Naples airport on the same day, affecting check-ins, baggage collection and aircraft servicing. And finally, Saturday July 26 will see a national airline and airport strike which will run from 1pm to 5pm. Significant delays for some travellers are expected if airline staff and airport ground workers walk out as expected. The nationwide strike also coincides with strikes bySpanish airline Volotea pilots and cabin crew. Italian law states any flights scheduled between 6am-9am and 6pm-9pm are protected from strike action, so check when your bookings are, and confirm your flight status directly with airlines. Why are anti-tourism protesters descending on European holiday hotspots? Holidaymakers squirted with water as anti-tourism protests sweep through Europe France French air traffic controllers will be striking for two days from July 3-4, and more strikes are anticipated over the summer months if an agremeent can not be reached. These strikes could not only affect flights coming to and from France, but flights going though French airspace. Air traffic controllers are calling for reinforced staffing levels, technical modernisation and a prioritisation of operational decisions. One rail union has also filed an open-ended strike notice until September for railway staff, including ticket inspectors. A previous strike, however, didn't cause any disruption on the network, as drivers were not included. Belgium Belgium has had national strikes almost every month since January, in a protest against budget cuts and pension reforms. The strikes have particularly affected Belgian air travel, 180,000 passengers are estimated to have been affected so far. The last strike was June 25, where there were no outgoing flights from Brussels airport and over half of incoming flights were disrupted. There were also no flights going in or out of Charleroi Airport. The levels of disruption have led to calls for a minimum service during strike action at Brussels airport. Each joint-strike action at the airport is estimated to have cost the Belgian economy €25 million. There currently isn't a general strike date set for the summer months, with the leading unions announcing joint action to take place in October. However, it is wise to keep up to date and see if this changes. Finland National flag carrier Finnair will go on strike on the July 2, 4 and 7 with around 900 flights set to be cancelled. The walk-outs are four-hours long on each day and will affect Helsinki airport. Essential ground services such as baggage, catering and ground handling operations will be impacted as well. Elsewhere Ground crew from the Dutch flag carrier KLM were due to go on strike in late June, but this was blocked by a judge due to safety concerns. It is unknown when strike action could be reinstated. Greece also saw at least eight days of strike action in June affecting Adriatic ferries between Greece and Italy, but future strike action hasn't yet been planned. What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled due to strikes? If your flight is delayed or cancelled due to strike action, in most circumstances the airline is obligated to help you and/or provide compensation. If you are flying with a UK or EU airline, or any airline departing from a UK or EU airport, you must be offered a refund or rerouted. If your flight is cancelled due to airline staff striking, you are entitled to compensation - unless you were told about the cancellation at least two weeks before departure. However, if your flight is affected by strikes out of the airlines control, such as airport, baggage handler or border force strikes, you likely won't be entitled to compensation. Which? has a compensation tool to help you calculate what you could be owed. Before you book it is essential to check for strike dates affecting airlines, airports and the country you are travelling to. European anti-tourism protests The latest strikes come as anti-tourism protests are also expected across Europe. Thousands of protesters turned out in southern Europe to demonstrate against overtourism, marching and using water pistols against unsuspecting tourists on June 15. The marches were part of a coordinated effort by activists from southern Europe's top destinations, including the Spanish destinations of Barcelona and Mallorca, as well as in Venice, Italy, and Portugal's capital, Lisbon. Demonstrators say that overtourism is fuelling a housing crisis and erasing the character of their hometowns. June was the largest joint action planned so far, with no future dates announced yet by the Southern European Network Against Touristisation. However, smaller individual protests could still continue throughout the summer. The UK Foreign Office advises that demonstrations, political gatherings or marches can take place with little warning. They recommend holidaymakers to follow the advice of police and local authorities, and to be aware of your surroundings if a demonstration is taking place, and move away if there are signs of disorder.
Local Spain
21 hours ago
- Business
- Local Spain
Spain court shelves Ryanair's €107 million fine for 'abusive practices'
The Madrid court said it accepted their appeals against the respective fines of €107 million ($125 million) and €1.6 million while the basis of the case was still being resolved. The court also justified its decision by the costliness of the fines which would "cause a mismatch and difficulties for the treasury" of the companies. The airlines will meanwhile have to pay guarantees collectively totalling almost €112 million. The consumer ministry announced fines against five companies in November for what it identified as "abusive practices", including charging for hand luggage, providing misleading information and a lack of price transparency. Irish no-frills carrier Ryanair was specifically fined for charging passengers a "disproportionate amount" for printing their boarding passes at terminals when they did not have them. EasyJet and Spanish airlines Volotea and Vueling were also among the punished firms. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary slammed the "political" fines at the time as "illegal and baseless". Far-left consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy, who has become embroiled in a spat with Ryanair over his policies, conceded the practices would continue until the courts decided the affair. The successful appeals were "normal and predictable under the rule of law", but "charging for hand luggage is illegal", he insisted on social network Bluesky. The European Parliament's transport commission has proposed allowing passengers to bring a personal object such as a handbag or backpack on board, as well as another piece of luggage weighing seven kilograms at most. But the sector association Airlines for Europe says the move would increase the cost of tickets for passengers who choose to travel light.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Lewis Hamilton gives lucky F1 rival a lift home on his private jet after finding out he was booked on EasyJet
It was Franco Colapinto's first time riding on a private jet. COME FLY WITH ME COME FLY WITH ME Lewis Hamilton gives lucky F1 rival a lift home on his private jet after finding out he was booked on EasyJet Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LEWIS HAMILTON took rookie Franco Colapinto on his private jet following the Spanish Grand Prix, instead of flying EasyJet. The seven-time world champion put a message in the F1 drivers' WhatsApp group following the race in Barcelona offering a free flight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Franco Colapinto rode in style in Lewis Hamilton's private jet instead of EasyJet after the Spanish Grand Prix. Credit: EPA 4 Lewis Hamilton sold his candy red private jet he purchased for £25m in 2013 4 Hamilton bought the jet shortly after leaving McLaren for Mercedes 4 The 40-year-old sold it for environmental reasons but still hires jets to some Grands Prix 22-year-old Argentinian Alpine driver Colapinto said he was headed to London - but with budget airline EasyJet. So Hamilton told him to cancel his plans and hitch a ride onboard his swanky jet instead. Colapinto said it was a "dream come true" given he has always been a huge admirer of the Ferrari driver and he had never been on a private jet. Ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Colapinto said: "Yeah it was nice, 'Lewis is a great guy and I had the best flight of my life with him. It was very special and very unique. "You all know that he was my idol since I was very young, with Senna as well, and to be able to fly with him and have a bit of a chat. 'He asked if anyone was flying to London and I said I'm going to London but on EasyJet. "And he came back saying he had a lot of space on his plane and invited me to go. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "It was quite special. Also flying private for the first time, two very unique experiences and a lot of stories from Lewis. A very special flight. 'He's a great guy and I was very, very impressed by how he is as a person and how he is as a professional. Lewis Hamilton devastated after hitting RODENT in Canadian GP as damage to Ferrari derails F1 star's race "A lot to admire from the personal part from the sportsman. It was great, a dream come true and didn't have to fly on my EasyJet flight.' In 2013 Hamilton purchased a £25million luxury Bombadier Challenger 605 in a striking cherry red colour, shortly after leaving McLaren for Mercedes. He sold it in 2019 so it is likely the jet that Colapinto travelled on was rented by Hamilton. Hamilton sold the jet on as it did not make financial sense and it was also not in keeping with his views on sustainable living.
