BA strike action threatens to ground 850 flights

British Airways pilots have threatened to ground planes and escalate pressure on the airline which is preparing to cancel almost all of its 850 flights during strike action on Monday in a dispute over pay.

The government has intervened and asked the UK’s flag carrier for the two sides “to get around the table and sort this out”.

A 48-hour period that would normally see 1, 700 flights effecting up to 280, 000 passengers.

The Balpa union warned there could be further strikes after those scheduled for next week. BA pilots have made plans to crowdfund an extended campaign. “The only way to deal with (BA’s) approach is to display steely eyed resolve” said a BA pilot.

 Brian Strutton, general secretary of Balpa said: “We’ll take stock after the strike action next week. We hope to see BA at the negotiating table but if it does not happen then we’ll have to consider next steps and as part of that further strikes are not ruled out. BA has shut down all dialogue with the union, calling it petty dismal”. Balpa has a mandate for strike action until January 2020.

Pilots have asked for a three-year deal, including better profit sharing. BA has offered an 11.5 per cent pay rise over that period, a deal that the Unite and GMB trade Unions have accepted.

 BA made €2.7bn in operating profit last year.