BA to run at least half of Heathrow flights through strike
Sunday, 24 May, 2010
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British Airways aims to fly at least half of its schedule of long and short haul flights from Heathrow through the latest strike by cabin crew.
But there will be inevitable distruption in the first of a series of four-day walkouts by thousands of staff after attempts to resolve the dispute over pay and working conditions broke down at the weekend.
BA said:
- Flights Gatwick will operate as normal.
- Flights operated to and from London City will operate as normal, including services to and from New York.
- More than 60 per cent of long haul services into and out of Heathrow will operate as planned between May 24 and May 28. The airline may be able to add to this schedule in the days ahead.
- The airline will be able to operate more than half of its short haul flights into and out of Heathrow between May 24 and May 28. The airline may be able to add to this schedule in the days ahead.
The size of the schedule at Heathrow will be similar to that previously announced ahead of the cancelled first strike period last week.
More than 70% of passengers booked to fly between May 24 and May 28 are expected to be handled, amounting to over 60,000 each day.
“Many thousands more” will be able to use seats BA has secured on more than 30 other airlines.
BA will operate most of its revised short haul schedule at Heathrow using its own aircraft and cabin crew, but will supplement its schedule by leasing up to eight aircraft with pilots and cabin crews from other UK or European airlines.
In addition to the strike which started at midnight, two more five-day walkouts by Unite members are scheduled to begin on May 30 and June 5, hitting the Whitsun school half-term holiday period.
“British Airways’ flight programme is complex, involving the combination of rosters for 13,000 cabin crew, more than 3,000 pilots and 230 aircraft operating schedules. More than 8,000 flight and cabin crew have to be in the right place at the right time, either on aircraft, at airports or in crew hotels in more than 140 cities in more than 70 countries, every day,” the airline said.
“Customers are advised to check ba.com on a regular basis to see if their flight is still operating before departing for the airport. If their flight has been cancelled they should not come to the airport but contact British Airways or their travel agent.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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