Ryanair cancels Almería – Madrid route

Ryanair will drop all Almería – Madrid flights in 2013, as part of a 12% cutback in seat capacity in Spain. The decision comes after further landing fee increases were announced by AENA, the airports authorities. Ryanair said in a comunique that “Just because AENA is bankrupt, our passengers won’t pay more, and so we can’t bring as many tourists to Spain next year”. On some routes, Ryanair claims that the increase is double, meaning Continue reading Ryanair cancels Almería – Madrid route

Spain (quietly) gives up its aircraft carrier

The Spanish Navy has very quietly announced that it has mothballed its only aircraft carrier, the “Principe de Asturias” (pictured), and will sell it for scrap next year, due to budget cutbacks. The news hasn’t made headlines in Spain, for whatever range of reasons (pick your own). What has made headlines, is the “surprising” fact that the aircraft carrier will be scrapped “up north”, in Ferrol, despite being considered a Cadiz ship. Principe de Asturias Continue reading Spain (quietly) gives up its aircraft carrier

Speed limits on toll roads about to be upped?

Flushed with the excitement of the great idea of allowing rich foriegners instant access to the country in exchange for 160k, the government has come up with another revenue raising scheme: They want to up the speed limits on the nations bankrupt tollroads to 140 kph. The theory is that this way more people will use the tollroads (coz it’s faster) thus raising cash flow at the poverty stricken companies, and save them from having Continue reading Speed limits on toll roads about to be upped?

Complaints grow as Mojacar refuses to clean up beaches after flash floods

El Mundo reports that Mojacar townhall is refusing to cleanup the “hundreds of tons” of rubbish washed up on its beachs after last months flash floods. Rosa María Cano (PP), aka ¡Rosimari!, says that its not up to the townhall to clean the beaches, and the Diputacion should do it. The Diputacion refutes this. Cano says that whilst she accepts its up to the townhall to keep the beaches clean, an exceptional case such as Continue reading Complaints grow as Mojacar refuses to clean up beaches after flash floods

Chap who tried to overthrow Spanish democracy denounces Catalonias’ Más for “sedition and treason”

Ex-copper Lieutenant-Colonel Tejero (ex L-C, he was fired from the Guardia Civil for leading an attempt to overthrow the Spanish parliament on the 23rd of Feb, 1981 – his coup détât was eventually defused by King Juan Carlos, who refused to back them) is back in the limelight for denouncing the President of Catalonia on sedition and treason charges. Tejero was the leader of the coup attempt, and his face became famous as the whiskery Continue reading Chap who tried to overthrow Spanish democracy denounces Catalonias’ Más for “sedition and treason”

Take part in the Junta de Andalucia tourism debate (or abuse the politicians!)

Or, as their slogan says: Participa, comparte tus nuevas ideas porque Tú eres TUrismo. Irritating, isn’t it? Anyway, the idea is to get anyone who works in Tourism in Andalusia to get onto their forums and give the politicos some helpful ideas which they can steal. Although I expect they will shortly be full of complaints against the politicians. Or something. As of this morning, all the forums seemed to be empty. Click the “innovative Continue reading Take part in the Junta de Andalucia tourism debate (or abuse the politicians!)

Moratorium on evictions promised for Monday

Told ya. Rajoy has announced that he intends to order an immediate moratorium on all evictions that involve “vulnerable families” (taken to mean anyone with kids or seniors) until the situation can be revised. In other news, Bankia has confirmed that it will not proceed with three evictions in the Canary Islands that were supposed to be carried out today – after the Santa Cruz townhall withdrew 1,5 million euros in a current account it Continue reading Moratorium on evictions promised for Monday

An end to bank repossessions?

Spain is at a tipping point. No, not the Catalan elections, nor the abortive general strike (supposed to be soon but everyone is ignoring it). I’m talking about the desahucios, the forced evictions of ex-home owners by the banks. Currently, if you miss just two mortgage repayments, the banks will start repossession actions. Within just a couple of months, the baliffs turn up and turf you out. The internet is full of stories of people Continue reading An end to bank repossessions?