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Iberia allows ticket changes because of fires affecting Barajas
Forest fires in Madrid and south-west France have led Iberia to relax the conditions for some tickets. Passengers having difficulty getting to Barajas or affected by the situation in Bordeaux can change their travel date or request the amount as a voucher.
The measure applies to flights originating in or bound for Madrid and Bordeaux included in the period enabled by the airline. Changes allow travel to be moved until 3 August, provided there is availability in the same cabin.
The alternative to changing the date is to receive a voucher for the value of the ticket. A direct refund to the payment method is not envisaged unless the flight ends up being cancelled and the airline’s usual conditions apply.
In Madrid, the main problem is not operations at Barajas, but the difficulty of reaching the airport. The fires have affected thirteen roads in the regional network and around 178 kilometres of roads, forcing routes to be altered from several municipalities.
The airline has clarified that its flights from Madrid are not suffering direct disruption from the fire. Even so, it recommends leaving with more time, checking traffic and confirming flight status before travelling to the terminals.
The special policy also includes Bordeaux airport. Fires in south-west France have caused significant delays in sectors of airspace managed from that city because of the flames’ proximity to the control centre.
These restrictions may affect flights that do not even have Bordeaux as their origin or destination, since part of European air traffic crosses those sectors. Passengers should consult their airline directly about any change before going to the airport.
The episode leaves an early August affected both on the ground and in the air. Affected roads, longer journeys and possible delays mean every trip must be planned with a margin, even when the flight remains scheduled normally.