Second day of strikes by Iberia in Madrid

Iberia was forced to cancel 232 flights in today’s second day of strikes.

Alternative carriers for 85 percent of those affected were found. The minimum services decreed by the government allowed the airline to cover 35 percent of its scheduled flights for the day.

Monday’s strike was marked by clashes between riot police and protesting employees at Madrid Barajas airport, resulting in the arrest of five Iberia workers.

There was a strong police presence today at the airport’s Terminal 4 , but that failed to dissuade hundreds of strikers from returning to the scene of yesterday’s incidents. So far, there have been no reports of any disturbances today.

Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Soria said that the stoppages were “badly damaging the Spanish tourist sector and the image of Spain.”

Tourism, which is one of the few bright spots in the Spanish economy, shrank an estimated 1.4 percent last year.