BRITISH Airways passengers could face further strikes this year after the airline announced a profit warning.
Parent company IAG claims that the most recent pilot strikes cost the airline £121 million.
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BA pilots have hit back at the claims that they are to blame for the profit warning.
The pilots previously walked out on September 9 and 10, affecting thousands of passengers with more than 2,000 cancelled flights.
BALPA issued a statement, claiming that blaming pilots and failing to mention BA’s IT glitch, which led to hundreds of flights being cancelled, or their £183 million GDPR fine was “disingenuous”.
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, added: “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.”
The statement confirmed that despite calling off the strike today, “BA pilots believe their management is treating them with contempt and are now asking BALPA to consider more strike dates”.
Approximately half of BA’s flights remain cancelled today despite the strike called off.
British Airways preemptively cancelled some of their flights, with 400 services from London Heathrow and London Gatwick grounded, according to The Independent.
A British Airways spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “We remain open and willing to negotiate.”
Pilots could go on strike during Christmas and announce strike days anytime between now and January, giving two weeks’ notice each time.
This could lead to more expensive holidays during the festive season.
Why are pilots striking?
BA pilots announced their intention to strike following a failure to settle a pay dispute.
BALPA rejected British Airways attempt to settle the feud, after they offered a 11.5 per cent pay rise and a 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 £2 billion a year.
They said the strike was “a last resort and with enormous frustration at the way the business is now being run”.
British Airways captains lost £21,000 each in pay and benefits due to the strikes, The Sun previously reported.
The airline has issued advice on what to do if you’re affected by BA strikes.
If the flight was cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund, or to rebook your flight for free.
