At British Airways (BA), the first pilot strike in the company’s history is leading to the loss of virtually all flights. There was no way to predict how many pilots and pilots will come to work and which aircraft they are allowed to fly, the airline said this morning in London. „So we had no choice but to cancel our flights almost 100 percent.“
The pilots want to strike for better pay. According to the union, work stoppages are planned for the British airline for today, tomorrow and 27 September.
Around 850 flights per day
Tens of thousands of passengers are likely to be affected by the strikes, according to news agency PA. British Airways offers about 850 flights per day. Affected customers were offered reimbursements or transfers. Flights to BA CityFlyer, Sun-Air and Comair are not affected.
British Airways had offered the pilots a pay rise of 11.5 percent over three years in July. This was rejected, however. The airline is one of the world’s largest airlines.
„British Airways needs to wake up,“ said Secretary General of the British Airline Pilots‘ Association (BALPA), Brian Strutton. The pilots had to accept substantial pay cuts in difficult times. Now the airline should give something back in times of profit. According to the Pilots‘ Union, a strike day costs 40 million British pounds (about 44 million euros).
