Spain’s air traffic controllers call in sick en masse

Air traffic controllers called in sick en masse across Spain yesterday, shutting air space over Madrid and Balearic island airports in a surprise action during a row over working hours.

Airport operator AENA condemned the mass, coordinated action, saying it was an “intolerable” and “irresponsible” act which hit more than 100,000 passengers at the start of a long weekend.

AENA warned of disciplinary dismissals and said the action may even be considered criminal.

Controllers started calling in sick and leaving posts barely two hours into a new shift at 5 p.m. (1600 GMT) at airports around Spain, hitting Madrid and the Balearic islands hardest, AENA said.

Barcelona and Sevilla airports were reportedly forced to reduce capacity, too.

“The intolerable attitude of controllers has led to the closure of air space of Madrid and the airports of Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza and Minorca,” AENA said in a statement.

“This irresponsible decision is causing huge disruption in air traffic in the whole of Spain,” it said.

“The decision to paralyse air traffic in the country is extremely serious and, as well as being extremely serious misconduct that could be punished with disciplinary dismissals of controllers who refuse to work, it constitutes a crime according to article 409 of the penal code.”