MADRID – Spanish flag carrier Iberia and its pilots on Wednesday resumed talks aimed at ending a labour dispute that has led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights since it began in early December, a company spokeswoman said.

The talks over a new collective agreement for the pilots will resume on Friday, the spokeswoman said. They had broken down in December.

Over 800,000 passengers have been affected by the "go-slow" campaign by Iberia pilots which has led to the cancellation of over 500 flights and delays to 5,000 others, she said.

Iberia, which is discussing a tie-up with British Airways, has spent over EUR 5 million to help those affected by the labour dispute, the company said in a statement.

SEPLA, Spain's main pilots' union, denied that a "go-slow" campaign is under way, blaming instead a shortage of pilots for the wave of flight delays and cancellations.

Hundreds of passengers have spent the night at the airport or at nearby hotels in recent weeks because their flights were delayed or cancelled and no alternative was quickly found.

[AFP / Expatica]