Hundreds of flights cancelled due to dispute with civil aviation workers
EMILY TSANG AND REUTERS
PUBLISHED : Monday, 21 December, 2015, 8:13pm
UPDATED : Monday, 21 December, 2015, 8:26pm
Passengers wait for their flights at the international airport in Santiago, Chile. Photo: Reuters
Arrangements have been made for at least 11 Hongkongers who were stranded in Chile following a strike that forced the cancelling of hundreds of flights to return home, said the Immigration Department earlier today.
The local tourists had joined a travel tour to Easter Island when a four-day strike broke out, stranding over 1,000 passengers from around the world.
The Immigration Department had immediately communicated with the Chinese consulate in Chile and the Tourism Board once the strike broke out, said a spokesman.
“The travel tour companies confirmed that their staff and the tour members were situated in safe places,” he added. “They have received proper arrangements and flights to return Hong Kong.”
The spokesman did not say which flights the Hongkongers took or when they would be arriving.
On Sunday, Chile’s Defence Minister said the government and workers tied to the civil aviation authority have reached an agreement and ended the strike, which started on 17 December.
But relocating passengers affected by the four-day strike could take several days.
“We want to say to all the Chileans who were affected (by the strike) that we deeply regret this situation, that we will go the extra mile together with the airlines, with all of our staff and also with workers from the civil aviation authority to reverse this situation,” said Defence Minister Jose Antonio Gomez.
READ MORE: Strike averted: Cathay Pacific flight attendants back pay deal
In September, a 24-hour strike stranded thousands of travellers and created long lines at airports after the majority of workers affiliated with the DGAC, or the civil aviation authority, went on strike to demand improved benefits and working conditions.
After two months of negotiations, DGAC workers, including air traffic controllers, said this week that they had rejected the government’s proposal for a state subsidy to improve their pensions and went on strike again.
The affected Hong Kong tourists had departed for the country on 29 November and were scheduled to return today after a 18-day visit.
The Immigration Department said it would remain in contact with the relevant parties and keep up-to-date with the situation. Any Hongkonger who requires assistance abroad can call a 24-hour hotline (852)1868.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/1893762/arrangements-made-hongkongers-stranded-chile-strike-return-home
