FIVE months of Ryanair strikes in Spain will start from today, threatening to add to this summer's widespread travel chaos.
Cabin crew members will hold the walkouts every week from Monday to Thursday.
The plan is for the strikes to last until January 7 due to an ongoing dispute over pay.
Ryanair workers caused disruption at a number of Spanish airports last month when they walked out for several days, mainly on weekends.
Ten Spanish airports were affected, including Madrid, Malaga, Barcelona, Alicante, Sevilla, Palma, Valencia, Girona, Santiago de Compostela and Ibiza.
Disruption could affect the same ten airports this time around, however Ryanair say they aren't expecting many problems.
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The strike action is backed both by the USO and Sitclpa union groups, who are demanding 22 days of holiday and two extra months payment per year to comply with Spanish workers laws.
Lidia Aransanz, a leader for USO's Ryanair section said: "As the company has been unable to listen to the workers, we have been forced to call new strike days."
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Ryanair has recently reached an agreement with the main Spanish CCOO union on pay, rosters and allowances for its Spanish cabin crew.
"Recent strikes by USO/SITCPLA have been poorly supported with minimal effect.
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"Ryanair has operated over 45,000 flights to/from Spain over the last 3 months with less than 1% affected by crewing and Ryanair expects minimal (if any) disruption this winter."
Sun Online Travel has contacted Ryanair for additional comment.
Ryanair aren't the only airline to be striking in Spain this week, with easyJet staff also set for walkouts.
Pilots from the budget airline will stage the walkouts across three different three-day periods, totalling nine days altogether.
The first of the easyJet strikes will take place from August 12-14, the second from August 19-21 and the third and final strike will be from August 27-29.
EasyJet said they were planning on running a full schedule despite the strikes, but admitted that disruption was expected at three of its airports – Barcelona, Malaga and Palma.
A spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “EasyJet has been formally advised of strike action by its Spain-based pilots union Sepla.
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"The strike is called on 12-14, 19-21 and 27-29 August at its bases in Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma.
"Should the industrial action go ahead we expect some disruption to our flying programme to and from Malaga, Palma and Barcelona during the strike period but at this stage, easyJet plans to operate its full schedule and we would like to reassure customers that we will do everything possible to minimise any disruption.”
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