BA strike to wreak havoc for holiday travellers

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 21:35

THE festive travel plans of one million passengers have been thrown into chaos after British Airways cabin crew called a 12-day strike that threatens to ground most of the airline's flights.

• National Officer Steve Turner, Assistant General Secretary Len McCleskey and Brian Boyd, also a National Officer, all for Unite speak to the media. Picture: PA

Massive disruption is expected if the walkout, from next Tuesday until 2 January, goes ahead. The thousands of BA flights affected would include most of those between Scotland and London, which carry up to 7,000 people a day. Half of those passengers connect with other BA flights.

The strike represents a huge gamble for the Unite union in its attempt to win concessions from BA over the airline's cost-cutting survival plan. But its members voted more than nine to one for action in a turnout of more than 80 per cent.

The strike, over planned pay and job cuts, could involve 13,000 cabin crew – nearly one-third of the airline's workforce. The majority of BA's cabin crew earn twice as much as their rivals at Virgin Atlantic.

Aviation analysts said the strike would do far more damage to BA's reputation than previous disasters, such as the chaotic opening of Heathrow's Terminal Five last year. They said passengers whose Christmas and New Year holiday plans were ruined would never forgive the airline.

Many of those affected by a strike next week will have little prospect of finding a seat with other carriers because of the seasonal rush, experts said.

Flights between Edinburgh and Glasgow and London City airport will be among the few BA services still operating during any strike, because they are run by a subsidiary, BA CityFlyer.

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British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh called the planned walkout "senseless".

"It is very sad they are seeking to use the Christmas holiday plans and family reunions of hundreds of thousands of people to try to pursue their case," he said.

"Unite must understand that there can be no return to the old, inefficient ways if we want to ensure long-term survival."

The strike announcement came as the airline revealed its pension deficit had soared by three-quarters to 3.7 billion. BA expects its losses will double to a new record of up to 800 million this year

Experts said BA passengers hoping to travel as planned could do little but hope the strikes were called off. They said passengers could not yet seek refunds from BA, but at the same time there might be few seats available with other airlines.

Frances Tuke, a spokeswoman for travel organisation Abta, said: "This is an extremely busy time of the year and it may be very difficult to find alternative flights."

Len McCluskey, Unite's assistant general secretary, said he hoped the size of the vote would force BA to reopen negotiations.

He said: "You don't often get ballot results like this unless there is a deep-rooted sense of anxiety, concern and anger. We have taken this decision to disrupt passengers with a heavy heart and we are hoping that the company can still avoid it happening."

Mr McCluskey predicted the strike would cost BA "an enormous amount of money".

However, he made clear that BA would have to lift the imposition of the changes, including a reduction in cabin crew numbers, before fresh talks could be held.

He said Unite had put forward proposals it believed could save almost 60m, including a pay cut, adding: "The company has consistently refused to accept our proposals and wants more from cabin crew than we believe is necessary."

The average salary for BA cabin crew, including bonuses and allowances, is 29,900. Virgin Atlantic crew are paid less because Sir Richard Branson's airline typically hires younger staff.

One BA cabin crew member said: "We are conscious of the disruption this will cause and we genuinely don't want to inconvenience the public, but we feel we have no option."

A BA spokesman said: "A 12-day strike would be completely unjustified and a huge overreaction to the modest changes we have announced for cabin crew, which are intended to help us recover from record financial losses.

"Unite's cynical decision betrays a total lack of concern for our customers, our business and other employees."

Aviation analyst John Strickland, of JLS Consulting, said: "The strike announcement is incredible – it is effectively shutting the airline down over its peak travel period. I am not sure there is a groundswell of public support. A lot of people will be sceptical as to why the union is doing this."

John Grant, managing director of aviation firm ASM, said: "It will be a disaster for everyone inconvenienced. Families and other groups are going to find it very hard to be accommodated with other carriers.

"BA is not as cost-effective as it could be and this is a short-sighted reaction from the union."

Laurie Price, director of aviation strategy at consultant Mott MacDonald, said: "There is a very significant reputational risk to the carrier of choice at Britain's No1 airport (ie, Heathrow].

"People are not going to forgive BA for not being able to guarantee their flights will operate … This is one disruption that can be fairly and squarely blamed on the BA management and cabin crew."

The Conservatives have accused Unite of holding passengers to ransom. Shadow transport secretary Theresa Villiers said: "As well as involving huge hassle for air passengers, a strike would damage the interests of BA's employees.

"At a time when BA is under intense competitive pressure from no-frills airlines, the last thing the company needs is the financial and reputational damage caused by strike action.

"The union is holding passengers to ransom. I would urge the union and BA to sort this out before the Christmas rush."