AIRPORT SECURITY UPGRADE

€2million boost for Alicante-Elche airport

EL ALTET airport is set for a €2million investment by national airports authority AENA - mainly to be spent on further security measures.

Contracts have been put out to tender to improve vehicle access control and upgrade protection on the outside perimeter fencing.

The issue of security, in the light of the recent terrorist attacks, is a priority at airports and other transport hubs.

Other improvements are focused on health and safety, such as the installation of more cardio-protected areas (defribrillators).

Upgrades will also include the installation of four new passenger walkways for direct embarcation from the main terminal building.

STRIKE 'ON HOLD'

Meanwhile, unions have placed the AENA staff strike - due to start this month - on hold.

UNIONS have place the 25-day strike at national airports 'on hold' after a meeting held on Wednesday with government representatives.

Industrial action threatened all Spanish airports between September and December, but in a meeting held with transport secretary Julio Gómez-Pomar, unions agreed to give the government extra time to study their proposal which has already been accepted by National Airports companies AENA and Enaire.

Unions, AENA and government representatives will meet again on September 7. It is up to the tax ministry to approve the proposed staffing and salary increases that workers are demanding.

Barcelona strike to resume

Security officers who work for Eulen at Barcelona El Prat airport will resume their industrial action on September 8 in protest at “reprisals” against four workers. They will stop work for an hour on Fridays at 10.30 and 18.30 but warn this will increase if the sanctions are not lifted.