Madrid - Cancellations and delays of flights continued Monday at Madrid's Barajas airport where tens of thousands of passengers have been affected over several days. However, weather conditions created no more problems, with only the main Spanish airline Iberia experiencing disruptions, which the carrier blamed on an unofficial work-to-rule stoppage by pilots seeking better working conditions.
More than a dozen Iberia flights were cancelled in the morning to national and international destinations, including Paris and Dusseldorf, the airport operator Aena said.
About 500 passengers who had not been able to fly spent the night in hotels, according to Iberia sources.
Infrastructure Minister Magdalena Alvarez has launched an investigation into why hundreds of passengers were ordered to leave Iberia planes which pilots refused to fly, alleging that it would be illegal for them to work more hours.
Iberia faces a fine over inadequate treatment of passengers.
The airline is seeking damages worth 13 million euros (17 million dollars) for its problems from the pilots' union Sepla, which does not recognize that the pilots are on strike.
