Ryanair strikes – LIVE: Airline's Spanish cabin crew call off today's walkout but further action still expected

Ryanair advises customers travelling on strike dates to check the status of their flights using its Latest Travel Updates page. Input departing/arrival airport and the date of the flight to get the latest updates:

Ryanair.com/gben/travel-updates

The Ryanair strike for today, 8 January, has been called off.

Spanish union USO confirmed the suspension via Twitter.

However, it added that the planned strike for 10 and 13 January would still go ahead, pending ongoing negotiations.

All Ryanair flights to Spain from London Stansted have departed on schedule this morning.

Flights to destinations including Gran Canaria, Alicante, Tenerife and Malaga left as expected.

Ryanair passengers are being advised to check the airline's travel updates page to see if their flight is operating as normal: Ryanair.com/gben/travel-updates

Today also marks the day that Ryanair's full "gate fee" for baggage will take effect.

From today, the budget airline will charge Non-Priority customers who turn up at the departure gate with a larger cabin bag £25, according to The Irish Independent.

On 1 November, Ryanair officially changed its baggage rules, requiring customers to pay extra for Priority if they want to take more than one mid-size bag with them on flights.

But the airline later confirmed that it would offer passengers a "grace period" while they got used to the new baggage policy.

At the booking stage, passengers have the choice of paying for Priority (from £6), which allows them to take a larger cabin bag onboard with them; or checking it into the hold (from £8).

On the same day the Spanish cabin crew strike has been called off, Ryanair also announced its spring seat sale, offering up to £30 off return flights across its European network.

The sale is available for travel from January to mid-May on bookings made before midnight on 10 January.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said: "2019 has finally arrived and what better way to celebrate than by booking a spring getaway. We’ve launched a huge spring sale offering up to £30 off return flights across our entire European network, for travel between January and mid-May.

"This incredible offer will end at midnight (24:00hrs) on Thursday, so customers should log on quickly and bag a spring bargain break today."

The Spanish unions that represent cabin crew are today negotiating with Ryanair over the planned strikes for 10 and 13 January.

According to local media, unions USO and Sitcpla are meeting with Ryanair today to try to reach an agreement. If not, the walkouts planned for Thursday and Sunday will go ahead.

The ongoing row focuses on Ryanair’s practice of not employing staff on local labour contracts.