Eurocypria charter company pilots started a 24-hour strike early Wednesday, forcing the cancelation of flights to Britain, Germany and Northern Ireland and leaving 2,000 tourists stranded on this eastern Mediterranean island.
"This is totally unacceptable, and we are making arrangements to fly passengers out on other aircraft, but there will be delays," said Tassos Angelis, spokesman for Cyprus Airways Ltd., which owns Eurocypria Airlines Ltd.
He said he did not know how long passengers would have to wait at Cyprus's two airports in Larnaca and Paphos for their flights to Belfast; Bristol, England; Glasgow; Luton, England and Munich. Cyprus Airways issued a statement describing the strike, which disrupted the six flights, as "illegal and unwarranted.
"We call on pilots to reconsider their destructive action or be held responsible for the consequences of their actions regarding Eurocypria and fellow employees," Cyprus Airways said in a statement.Eurocypria pilots called the strike at 5:30 a.m. and were supported by cabin and ground crews.
The dispute is over Eurocypria's promotion policy for pilots, who say their treatment is inferior to that of Cyprus Airways pilots.
The pilots and management were negotiating Wednesday. – (AFP)
© Agence France Presse 2000
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
