Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Thousands stranded by Majorca strike

Elizabeth Nash
Saturday 30 June 2001 00:00 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Thousands of British and German holidaymakers were stranded at Palma de Majorca airport yesterday after coach drivers went on strike on the first day of the peak holiday season.

Desperate tour operators commandeered taxis throughout the Mediterranean island to ferry passengers to their hotels as hundreds of planes arrived throughout the day. A record 640 planes were scheduled to bring in 82,000 passengers yesterday, the busiest day so far this year.

At one point up to 7,000 passengers were stuck in the terminal. Numbers later fell to 3,000, with more than 18 aircraft backed up on the asphalt, prompting loud complaints from exasperated visitors.

"We've been coming here for 21 years but we won't be coming back next year," said a tourist from Cornwall. "It's a disgrace. We are being held hostage."

The strike for higher wages began at midnight on Thursday, forcing families to spend the night in the airport's corridors and waiting rooms, sleeping on airbeds or beachmats. A bemused Glaswegian complained: "We're just herded here like cattle, without knowing what's going on. It's upsetting for the children."

A spokesman insisted the airport, the third busiest in Spain, would remain open over the weekend despite the strike, with 316,000 holidaymakers due to fly in. Tour operators hired the island's entire fleet of 1,000 taxis for 100,000 pesetas (£400) each for a 12-hour day to ease the chaos. Huge queues snaked from the taxi ranks.

The island is one of Europe's busiest tourist destinations: last year 24 million people passed through Palma airport.

Coach drivers want a 17.2 per cent pay rise over three years, but the bus companies are offering only 15 per cent. Emergency talks broke down yesterday, and drivers are threatening to strike indefinitely if their demands are not met.

In Ibiza and Minorca, which are also affected, pickets stopped coaches ferrying people from the airport. Police had to protect tour operators who took visitors in their own cars.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in