Madrid - Spain's top airline Iberia said Tuesday it was cancelling 185 flights because of a pay strike by cabin crew.

Trade unions representing stewards and stewardesses are staging four one-day work stoppages in an attempt to win pay hikes while Iberia is trying to cut costs.

A total of 368 flights were due to be cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday, following the cancellation of 430 flights on October 26 and 27.

The flights eliminated on Tuesday and Wednesday included 121 international ones, Iberia said. Twelve of them were long distance flights to destinations including New York, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires and Mexico.

The cancellations were to affect 40,000 passengers. Iberia was offering them the possibility of changing their tickets or of getting their money back. (dpa)