City
Epaper

BA strike: Passengers asked not to turn up at airports

By IANS | Published: September 09, 2019 11:42 AM

British Airways (BA) has asked its passengers not to turn up at airports as the biggest strike action in the airlines 100 year history begins on Monday.

Open in App

More than 1,500 flights have been cancelled as the company was accused of bullying its own staff by union bosses, who warned they could continue the action until the end of the year, The Telegraph reported.

Some 280,000 people will be affected by the strike which is set to continue on Tuesday, costing BA 80 million pounds ($98 million) in lost revenue.

Flights to New York, Delhi, Hong Kong and Johannesburg have all been affected, with the airline telling passengers: "If your flight is cancelled, please do not go to the airport."

Travellers have been offered full refunds, flights on different carriers, or the option to fly on a different date, but should not turn up at the airport without a confirmed flight.

BA and The British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) are clashing after the union rejected a proposed 11.5 per cent pay rise for its pilots, taking their pay package to around 200,000 pounds a year.

BALPA says that BA "has resorted to breaking agreements and threatening pilots who will strike, which is bound to make matters worse" after they emailed their 4,300 pilots on Friday warning that strike action would be a 'serious breach' of their contract.

The airline further threatened to withdraw a travel perk, where staff can book tickets for ten per cent of the full fare plus taxes, for three years if they chose to strike.

BALPA branded the airline's behaviour "illogical and irresponsible" and "will further deepen the fall out with their pilots", reports The Telegraph.

British Airways said on Sunday: "We're extremely sorry for the problems caused by the strike action called by the pilots' union, BALPA on 9, 10 and 27 September.

"We continue to be available for constructive talks with BALPA, on the basis that there are no pre-conditions to those talks.

"If you have a flight booked with us on those dates, it is likely that you will not be able to travel as planned due to BALPA's strike action. We are offering all affected customers full refunds or the option to re-book to another date of travel or alternative airline."

( With inputs from IANS )

Open in App

Related Stories

National65 more refugees from Bangladesh take shelter in Mizoram

InternationalUN chief Guterres "saddened" on demise of Iran President Ebrahim Raisi in chopper crash

NationalGujarat govt readies for monsoon with disaster management strategy

EntertainmentRajKummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor perform Ganga Arti in Varanasi amid Mr and Mrs Mahi's promotions

AurangabadPreparations for counting of votes in full swing

International Realted Stories

International"As of now, nothing can be really ruled out": Foreign Affairs expert Sushant Sareen on Iran Prez Raisi's fatal chopper crash

InternationalUS, Australia, India and Japan have made important strides to advance free and open Indo-Pacific: Blinken

InternationalChile's envoy, police official visit CBI headquarters in Delhi

InternationalPakistan: Court acquits Imran Khan and his party leaders in vandalism case

InternationalJaishankar remembers role of Iranian President Raisi, FM Abdollahian in Chabahar Port agreement