British Airways flights have been cancelled today by the hundreds, affecting around 30,000 passengers. Over 400 flights were first axed when it was announced BA pilots would be going on strike. BA wanted to give advance warning to its customers of the strike impact. Furthermore, if airlines give 14 days notice of strike action and cancelled flights they do not have to pay compensation to affected passengers.
The industrial action by members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) was called off nine days ago.
However, the flights remanded cancelled. Over 400 flights from main London hubs Heathrow and Gatwick have been grounded today as a result.
According to travel expert Simon Calder, writing in The Independent, this is likely partly due to the complexities of crewing rosters.
Another reason for not reinstating the flights is the probability that many would be half-empty. This would make them both unprofitable and damaging for the environment.
A British Airways spokeswoman told Express.co.uk: “We will operate around half of our flights today, with a schedule of merged services to our daily destinations across our global network.”
At least 10 BA flights to and from Dublin, Edinburgh, Geneva and Nice have been cancelled from Heathrow.
Seven flights to New York from Heathrow were axed while a JFK flight from Gatwick was cancelled and eight from the New York hub to Gatwick were grounded.
Four flights have been cancelled between Heathrow and Mumbai as well as Toronto flights from Heathrow and Gatwick, and links from Heathrow to Dubai, Los Angeles and Washington.
BA announced the strike’s cancellation on Monday, saying: “The pilots’ union, BALPA, has called off its strike action planned for 27 September.
“If your flight was cancelled as a result of this industrial action, you now have the option to rebook on to a British Airways flight operating between 26 – 28 September, subject to availability.”
BA pilots walked out on 9 and 10 September which, according to BALPA, cost the airline £120million.
The union said in a statement: “BALPA has tried to remain reasonable during this dispute and offered a compromise to BA on 4 September, and then on 18 September we called off the strike planned for the 27 September to allow for a period of reflection.
“Given that we have had no response from the airline to our request for meaningful negotiations, the BA pilots believe their management is treating them with contempt and are now asking BALPA to consider more strike dates.”
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said: “This is proof that BA’s intransigence towards its pilots is economic madness. Their total disengagement is evidence of a senior management team that has lost the plot and doesn’t know how to resolve their dispute with their pilots.”
Routes previously served by Thomas Cook to destinations including Corfu, Dalaman and Malaga have also been cancelled by BA.
If passengers opted for a refund rather than rebooking their flight when the cancellations were first announced, BA will not be able refund for any alternative bookings made on another carrier.
“If you chose to get a refund on your original flight, due to cancellation, we will not be able to refund you for any alternative bookings made on another carrier,” said BA. “If BA had rebooked you onto an alternative carrier, due to cancellation of your BA flight, you will be able to rebook back onto a BA flight, subject to availability.”
Yesterday, BA announced their Christmas Markets sale which offers both flights and hotels at hotspots across Europe.
With journeys starting in November and running right through until the new year, routes will travel to Vienna, Berlin, Prague, Krakow, Cologne, Gothenburg, Zagreb, Nuremberg and Budapest – all well-known for their enchanting Christmas Markets.
While there are plenty of options to choose from, the best deal comes in at an incredible £99 for a trip to the Czech Republic.
