UK airlines threatened with GBP50m hike in wage bill
Airlines will see their wage bill rise by up to £50m a year after the European Court of Justice ruled British Airways should base pilots' holiday pay on overall earnings, not just basic pay.
The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) said the decision from the test case would apply to cabin crew as well as pilots.
If the case is approved by the UK Supreme Court, it could mean airlines will have to pay an extra £20m for pilots and £30m for cabin crew.
BALPA general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "This is a major victory for all pilots in the UK, not just the 3,000 British Airways pilots who had their claims heard by the European Court of Justice.
"The calculation of holiday pay was a clear example of pilots being short-changed by their employers. We always believed that under European working time rules introduced in 2004 pilots should be treated like other working people in the UK and should receive their proper pay during holidays. This should not be restricted to basic salary but should include allowances.
"British Airways and other UK airlines opposed us but, after a six-year legal battle, the European Court of Justice finally agreed with us.
"Based on this BA judgment, BALPA will be seeking to agree similar holiday pay arrangements for pilots in other UK airlines."
British Airways said it was waiting for the final decision of the UK courts. A spokesman added: "We are considering the European Court's ruling, and await the decision of the Supreme Court on whether it affects the holiday pay which has been collectively agreed between BA and its trade unions."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt