Controller walkout causes travel chaos

A massive air traffic controller walkout today on the eve of a long holiday weekend caused travel chaos throughout Spain, forcing authorities to close eight airports, including the major European hub in Madrid.

The controllers left their posts amid a lengthy dispute over working conditions and just hours after the administration of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigo Zapatero approved an austerity measure to partially privatise airports, and to hand over management of Madrid and Barcelona airports to the private sector.