Iberia says situation 'normal' as ground staff strike for third day

Around 17.5% of Iberia ground staff took part in a third day of strike action on Sunday morning, according to the airline. 

The situation regarding flights was "normal," Iberia said in a statement, with 88% on flights on Sunday morning on time, up from 83% on Saturday. The airline has 539 flights scheduled for Sunday. 

The company is working to deliver luggage that was not loaded on to flights from Barcelona, Bilbao and Gran Canaria yesterday, with bags being sent by road or on alternative flights.  

Iberia transported 30,000 pieces of luggage as normal on Friday, the company said, while union representatives say 750 bags were not loaded on to flights due to the strike. 

The airline reiterated its apologies for the inconvenience caused by the strike, both to Iberia customers and to those of other airlines that Iberia provides handling services for. 

On Saturday the USO union warned that Sunday could be a complicated day as people return from Christmas holidays and because of the "domino effect" after three days of strikes.  

The strike began on Friday and will last until Monday. Workers are protesting that the company has ruled out managing its own luggage (known as self-handling) at airports where Iberia Airport Services recently lost a tender to airport operator Aena. 

The main airports across Spain, excluding Madrid Barajas, were included in the tender.