Airport staff at state owned AENA, the national airport authority, have threatened 22 days of strikes starting on 20th April.

The threatened strikes planned over the Easter holiday, May bank holiday and in the height of summer, are in protest to the government’s partial privatisation of the airport management company that was announced in December.

Unions claim this will lead to airport closures and job losses. According to reports, the government, which is planning to sell a 49% stake in Aena in order to reduce budget deficit, is set to meet union officials tomorrow to discuss options to avert the walkout.

If the strikes go ahead, every airport in Spain would be affected and the result could be holiday chaos for travellers with plans to visit the popular travel destination.

The planned action comes after a volatile 12 months for UK flights, following BA industrial action, the Icelandic volcanic ash in April 2010 and heavy snowfalls in December 2010, which have all prevented Brits from travelling.

Travel industry professionals are calling for both sides to act responsibly, warning such strike action – during peak holiday times - would cause serious damage to Spain’s economy, which is still struggling to recover from the recession.

Passengers affected will be given the option to cancel or postpone their holidays.