Jaime Montalvo, the arbitrator brought in by the government to try to bring the stand-off between Iberia and its pilots to a conclusion, has requested an extension to the original ten-day deadline he was given on April 29th before he presents his findings.

Sources following the case have said that the arbitrator has asked to extend the ten working day time limit he was initially given because of the "complexity and importance" of the dispute the pilots have with Iberia.

Owing to this complexity, Montalvo has made an official request to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and to the Ministry of Public Works for the deadline to be extended.

He has requested additional documentation from both the pilots' union, Sepla and from the airline in order to have the maximum amount of information available to him in order to make the decision he has to make for both parties.

No specific new deadline has been requested as it is felt that the government, who forced Iberia and Sepla into this latest round of arbitration, should make the decision about when the conflict has to be solved.