Employees at Spain's biggest airline Iberia on Wednesday said they may "amplify and intensify" strikes taking place in February and March, dpa reported. More than 270 flights were cancelled on Wednesday as the first of three five-day strikes went into its third day. A meeting between Iberia and trade unions ended without results. "As time passes, it is not to be excluded that the mobilizations will grow," union representative Manuel Atienza said. Iberia said it was still hoping to reach an agreement with unions. The strikes do not only affect flights by Iberia, but also by related carriers Vueling, Air Nostrum and Iberia Express. Cabin crew and ground employees are protesting a decision by Iberia's owner, International Airlines Group, to cut about 3,800 jobs - nearly 20 per cent of the total - following a merger with British Airways in 2011. The plan also includes wage cuts and a reduction of Iberia's network capacity by 15 per cent. Pilots are expected to join the strike from March 4 onwards. Iberia said it made losses of 850 million euros (1.1 billion dollars) between 2008 and September 2012.
