BA plans to operate half of its Heathrow flights during strike
BRITISH Airways (BA) boss Willie Walsh yesterday condemned the planned three-week strike by cabin crew calling it “entirely disproportionate” while vowing to keep the airline going through out the walk out period.
The flag-carrier plans to fly 60,000 customers, or 70 per cent of its flights, during the first of four strike periods, with 60 per cent of long haul and 50 per cent of short haul flights continuing to operate out of Heathrow.
Walsh said: “Unite’s leaders have deliberately targeted the busy half term holidays to cause as much disruption as possible. Our offer is very fair. This strike action is entirely disproportionate.”
BA will lease up to eight aircraft with crew and pilots from five different European airlines, while it has also made arrangements with 50 other carriers so it can re-book passengers during the strike period.
Unite, the union representing the crew, said: “We’ve said repeatedly that the only way to settle this dispute is for BA to negotiate.”
Cabin crew are set to strike on the following dates, 18-22 May, 24-28 May, 30 May-3 June and 5-9 June.