Spain-based cabin crew at EasyJet plan to go on strike for nine days in July to demand higher pay from the budget airline, local union USO said today, potentially adding to travel woes as the sector struggles to cope with rebounding demand.
Workers will walk out on July 1-3, 15-17, and 29-31, Miguel Galan, general secretary of USO's EasyJet section, told reporters.
The airline's flight attendants in Spain are demanding a 40% increase in their basic salaries, he said.
The basic salary, which excludes bonuses and extra pay, stands at €950 per month for EasyJet's Spanish staff, which is much lower than in countries such as France and Germany, Mr Galan said.
"The company underestimated the outlook, was more pessimistic and conservative and is not ready for the demand… this generates a domino effect on us," Mr Galan said.
Still, the union, which says it represents 80% of the 450 staff based in Spain, still hopes an agreement can be reached to avoid the strike during a meeting with management tomorrow, Mr Galan said.
Pent-up travel demand after two years of restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic is stretching airlines and airport operators, causing staff shortages and long queues in terminals all over Europe.
Rising consumer prices and tough working conditions are pushing staff at many airlines in the region to protest and walk out.
Cabin staff at EasyJet's larger rival Ryanair plan to go on strike this month and in July in Spain and several other countries.
Meawhile, EasyJet said today it would buy 56 Airbus A320neo aircraft and convert an order of 18 A320neo jets to the same number of A321neo aircraft.
The move substantially completes a 2013 agreement with the European planemaker.
The aircraft will be delivered from 2026 until 2029 to replace older A319 and A320 aircraft, EasyJet said.
It said it was paying substantially less than the list price of about $6.5 billion due to price concessions granted in the 2013 agreement.
EasyJet had agreed with Airbus to defer some deliveries of aircraft under the 2013 deal because the pandemic had put its finances under severe pressure.
"While the board will regularly review optimal sources of financing, there is currently no expectation that shareholders will be asked to fund any aspect of the proposed purchase," it said.
