Iberia has decided to increase the seat offer on its flights with destination or origin Andalusia by 20% this Wednesday, which means 520 extra seats, thanks to the addition of two new frequencies and the expansion of capacity on two other flights already scheduled through the use of larger aircraft. In parallel, Air Europa has launched from today an additional daily flight to both Málaga and Sevilla.
Sources from both companies have told Europa Press that these actions are part of the extraordinary measures to support passenger transport, following the railway accident recorded in Urda (Toledo) between an AVE train and another from Iryo, which has altered the mobility of numerous travelers.
In the case of Iberia, the reinforcement translates into an additional connection between Madrid and Málaga for today, departing from the capital at 20.00 hours and returning from Málaga at 22.00 hours, as well as an increase in seats on two already scheduled flights, one destined for Sevilla and another to Málaga, by replacing the planned aircraft with Airbus A321 planes instead of A319 and A320neo.
Another of the decisions adopted by the airline has been to set a limit on the maximum fares on all flights originating in or destined for Andalusia until November 8, so that tickets are "capped at a maximum of 99 euros per leg in tourist fare and a maximum of 149 in 'Business' fare".
Likewise, the company has introduced flexibility conditions for customers who were due to fly and whose trip has been affected by the accident. To process changes to their bookings, passengers have the telephone number "900 111 500". Iberia has also indicated that it is working to be able to increase its operational capacity in the coming days.
As for Air Europa, its contingency plan contemplates the option of adding up to two extra flights to Sevilla, in addition to the reinforcement already active on the connections with Málaga and the Andalusian capital.
In parallel, the railway operators Renfe and Iryo have activated their emergency and victim assistance protocols. Renfe has activated its crisis office and the "Plan de Asistencia a las Víctimas de Accidentes Ferroviarios y a sus Familiares", and has enabled the free number "900 10 10 20" to attend to the affected people and their relatives.
To guarantee travel alternatives, Renfe has also organized a shuttle service between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Puertollano. These trains depart from track 4 of Atocha Cercanías and have five frequencies to Ciudad Real and Puertollano, set at "14:00, 16:30, 18:00, 20:00 and 22:30 hours".
For its part, Iryo has made available to users the customer service phone number "900 001 403" to facilitate the consultation of data about the incident and offer the necessary help.
The railway accident in Urda would have occurred at "8:54 hours" this Wednesday, when the "AVE train 2080 departing from Madrid and bound for Sevilla collided with the Iryo 6076 train that was traveling ahead and caused the derailment of the last two trains of the Iryo".