A planned third weekend of rail strikes which would have caused major disruption for passengers in Shropshire and Mid Wales has been called off — as fears were raised of air traffic chaos across Europe this Easter.

Drivers at Arriva Trains Wales were due to walk out this Saturday and Sunday as part of a bitter row over pay called by the Aslef Union, which would have also caused disruption for rugby fans trying to get to Cardiff for the Six Nations Championship.

But bosses at ATW today said negotiations between the firm and the union had gone well and this weekend’s strike has been averted.

It came as the European Union was urged to step in to prevent air traffic chaos this Easter amid threats of a series of strikes by Spanish airport staff.

A dispute involving AENA, the Spanish state-owned firm which runs Spain’s key airports, could mean a total of 22 days of stoppages starting at Easter and spreading into summer.

And although AENA says baggage handlers and air traffic controllers will not be affected, Ryanair demanded EU action to prevent a repeat of the air travel misery which blighted flights across Europe last year.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, speaking in Madrid, said: “”Ahead of yet another Spanish strike, Ryanair is calling on the EU to take action to prevent further strike action. Ryanair will not allow its passengers to be inconvenienced further by the selfish strike action by AENA workers.”

Arriva Trains Wales today said it was pleased at how talks had progressed about the planned rail strikes which would have affected Shropshire.

A spokeswoman for the firm today said: “Good progress has been made with Aslef which resulted in planned industrial action for Saturday and Sunday being called off.

A further meeting will take place next week.

“Arriva Trains Wales will now operate a full service, with additional services for the Wales v Ireland rugby international at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.”