BRITISH Airways pilots have already been on strike for two days this month with thousands of holidaymakers disrupted as flights are cancelled.
Balpa members said another strike is planned for later this month and in November, if the row remains unresolved. Here’s what we know.
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When are the strikes?
Pilots walked out on September 9 and 10 and are planning another strike on September 27 if the row remains unresolved.
Balpa union bosses are now plotting a ten-day mega strike that would cost £400million and “break” the airline in November.
Captains furious at the loss of pay and travel perks despite boosting BA profits have already held two days of action — with another due in two weeks.
An airline source told The Sun: “The disruption we have seen so far is nothing. The mega walkout would bring BA to its knees.”
The walkouts are a disruption to 195,000 passengers, with more than 1,700 flights already cancelled.
The strikes are costing British Airways about £40million a day according to reports, and they are taking place in the airline’s 100th year of operation.
BA’s chief executive, Alex Cruz, said he was “sad and disappointed” by what he called a totally unnecessary strike.
He said: “The blame lies squarely at the door of the pilots’ union, Balpa. I personally believe BA pilots are the best in the world … But I think they have been very badly served by the union.”
BA has offered a pay rise of 11.5 per cent over three years, which it says would boost the pay of some captains to £200,000, but Balpa says its members want a bigger share of the company’s profits.
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Have flights been cancelled?
British Airways cancelled around 1,700 flights on Monday, September 9, and Tuesday, Septmeber 10, which affected more than 280,000 people.
Disruption also continued into Wednesday.
The strike is costing BA around £80million in lost revenue.
BA contacted passengers with affected flights.
The strikes took place during one of the busiest holiday times of the year.
The company has been blasted after wrongly telling flyers their flights had been cancelled.
BA said in a statement: “We understand the frustration and disruption Balpa’s strike action has caused our customers. After many months of trying to resolve the pay dispute, we are extremely sorry that it has come to this.
“We remain ready and willing to return to talks with Balpa. Unfortunately, with no detail from Balpa on which pilots would strike, we had no way of predicting how many would come to work or which aircraft they are qualified to fly, so we had no option but to cancel nearly 100% of our flights.”
Why are pilots striking?
The pilots will go on strike following a failure to settle a pay dispute.
The union representing the pilots, Balpa, rejected British Airways attempt to settle the feud – 11.5 per cent pay rise and one-off lump sum offer.
Balpa said pilots had made previous sacrifices to assist the company including cuts to salary, pension and leave, but the airline was now recording profits of £2bn a year and the strike was “a last resort and with enormous frustration at the way the business is now being run”.
However, The Sun revealed BA’s pilots are less worried about the pay deal than the pending loss of a secret bonus scheme they have enjoyed for nine years.
According to BA’s chief executive, Alex Cruz, a BA captain earns an average of £167,000 and, with allowances and bonuses, would pass £200,000 per year.
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