Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IN2 B
IN2 B
IN2 B
TEXT
Thousands of passengers stranded as Spanair ceases operations
Spain's government has launched legal action against Spanair after it ceased operations, resulting in cancellation of 220
flights and affecting thousands of passengers. The airline's sudden shutdown violates the country's aviation regulations,
a minister said on Saturday. An estimated 22,000 passengers who had booked seats on Spanair flights now have to
make alternative arrangements and seek reimbursements. Spanair, owned by a consortium based in the north-eastern
region of Catalonia, shut down late on Friday because of a lack of funding.
The legal proceedings begun by Spain's government could lead to Spanair being fined 9m for two "serious
infringements" of aviation security legislation, development minister Ana Pastor said.
Chairman Ferran Soriano said the airline had failed to attract investment and consequently the regional government of
north-eastern Catalonia took the decision to stop providing funds. Spanair, whose hub was Barcelona airport, employed
around 2,000 people and used the services of about 1,200 ground staff.
Spanair's financial woes were aggravated by the 2008 crash that killed 154 people, the worst in 25 years. The airline,
which also ran a commuter service between Madrid and Barcelona, was in financial trouble even before the crash. In
2010 it reported an operating loss of 115m.
The Catalan government cited the "current economic climate" and "European legislation concerning competition" as the
major factors influencing its decision. In Brussels, the European Low Fares Airline Association said those of its members
flying overlapping routes with Spanair would offer specially discounted fares to help stranded passengers return home.
Offers are subject to seat availability, said the association of budget airlines which includes Ryanair and EasyJet.
Adaptad from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/28/spanair-cancels-flights-legal-action
.....................................................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................................................
took away the money before the private companies stopped their investments.
stopped investing funds in Spanair after the airline's inability to attract investments.
d. The association of budget airlines ...
will give preference to the passengers who had booked seats on Spanair flights
will offer free seats to passengers who had booked seats on Spanair flights
3. Answer the following questions in your own words, using information from the text. (9 puntos, 3 por apartado).
a. According to the text, what did minister Ana Pastor say?
........................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................
b. What happened in 2008 and how did it affect Spanair's financial problems?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
c. What does the European Low Fares Airline Association say in Brussels?
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
5. Link each one of the words with its definition. (16 puntos, 4 por apartado)
company / book / staff / commuter / run
A commercial business
company
6. Transform the following sentences as suggested. (25 puntos, 5 por cada apartado)
a. Offers are subject to seat availability. (Make a question for the underlined word)
........................................................................................................................................................................
b. Spain's government has launched legal actions against Spanair. (Turn into the passive voice)
........................................................................................................................................................................
c. Offers are subject to seat availability, said the association of budget airlines. (Turn into reported speech)
........................................................................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................................................................
d. (Complete the following conditional sentence) European Low Fares Airline Association would offer discounted
fares
........................................................................................................................................................................
e. Chairman Ferran Soriano said the airline had failed to attract investment. He took the decision to stop providing
funds.( Join with a relative pronoun)
..........................................................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................................................
C. Writing. (25 puntos)
7. Write a composition of about 100-120 words on one of the following topics.
a. Do you think that low-cost airlines are as good as non-low-cost ones?
b.