Chileans faced a third day of canceled and delayed domestic flights. (Representational Image)
Santiago, Chile:
With year-end holidays fast approaching, Chileans faced a third day of canceled and delayed domestic flights Saturday as airport workers vowed to continue a strike "indefinitely" over pension demands.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (GDCA), which represents some 3,000 Chilean airport workers, decided late Friday to continue their strike.
The Directorate represents luggage handlers, airport security and meteorologists, but not air traffic controllers, who remain on the job.
The strikers want to be allowed to join a pension plan used by the Chilean military.
The move forced the Latam Airlines Group -- the largest in Chile and in Latin America -- to cancel several domestic flights.
International flights would continue, though some might face delays, Latam said in a statement.
Operations will continue at seven Chilean airports "which account for 64 percent of our operations inside of Chile," Latam said.
Other airlines have also had to adjust their operations.
GDCA head Jose Perez said that the strike would continue until "the government responds in a concrete way."
Defense Minister Jose Antonio Gomez blasted the move, saying that it is "inconceivable" that airport workers could hold their countrymen "hostage" in order to receive benefits that, he said, go "far beyond what ordinary Chileans receive."
The situation grew tense on Thursday after the government said it would dispatch Air Force staff to the airports, drawing fierce criticism from the strikers, who said the military lacked needed expertise.
The General Directorate of Civil Aviation (GDCA), which represents some 3,000 Chilean airport workers, decided late Friday to continue their strike.
The Directorate represents luggage handlers, airport security and meteorologists, but not air traffic controllers, who remain on the job.
The strikers want to be allowed to join a pension plan used by the Chilean military.
The move forced the Latam Airlines Group -- the largest in Chile and in Latin America -- to cancel several domestic flights.
International flights would continue, though some might face delays, Latam said in a statement.
Operations will continue at seven Chilean airports "which account for 64 percent of our operations inside of Chile," Latam said.
Other airlines have also had to adjust their operations.
GDCA head Jose Perez said that the strike would continue until "the government responds in a concrete way."
Defense Minister Jose Antonio Gomez blasted the move, saying that it is "inconceivable" that airport workers could hold their countrymen "hostage" in order to receive benefits that, he said, go "far beyond what ordinary Chileans receive."
The situation grew tense on Thursday after the government said it would dispatch Air Force staff to the airports, drawing fierce criticism from the strikers, who said the military lacked needed expertise.
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