Spain's Iberia airline cancels some 1,300 flights as workers stage second week of strikes

MADRID – Spanish airline Iberia says some 1,300 flights will be canceled this week as workers begin a second round of strikes to protest the loss-making company's plans to lay off almost a fifth of its workforce.

The government has ordered a minimum amount of services should remain, meaning 85 percent of long-haul flights, 62 percent of medium-haul and 47 percent of domestic flights are guaranteed.

Unions representing most Iberia workers, but not pilots, called strikes between Feb. 18-22, March 4-8 and March 18-22.

A demonstration will be held at Madrid's Barajas airport later Monday.

International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways and Iberia, lost €923 million ($1.2 billion) last year on restructuring costs and writedowns on the value of Iberia.

Iberia last month said it planned to cut 3,807 jobs.