British Airways Expects 60% Longhaul Flights During Strike

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Unite, the trade union for British Airways (BA) cabin crew, is intending to strike between 18 May and 9 June, according to a statement on the British Airways website.

“At Heathrow we intend to operate more than 60 per cent of longhaul flights and more than 50 per cent of shorthaul flights in the first strike period and we will add to this schedule where we can,” British Airways said in a statement.

“At the moment, all of our flights are continuing to operate as normal,” the statement said, adding that “If the strike does go ahead we will still operate most of our scheduled flights.”

British Airways said that it plans to operate all flights to and from London City and London Gatwick.

On Monday, Unite said that “British Airways cabin crew are to hold a further 20 days of strike action following their overwhelming rejection of the company’s offer in a ballot last week.”

According to Unite, “BA management failed to offer any new proposals to settle the dispute over the weekend, so crew are to take strike action on the following days: May 18-22 inclusive, May 24-28 inclusive, May 30-June 3 inclusive and June 5-9 inclusive.”

Unite’s joint general secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley said, “Passengers and investors alike will be dismayed that British Airways’ management rejected an approach by the union over the weekend, after their offer had been comprehensively turned down by their own employees.

“Cabin crew are left with no choice but to take further strike action. There can be no industrial peace without meaningful negotiations and while management victimises trade unionists and uses disciplinary procedures in a witch-hunt,” they said in a Unite statement, adding, “The seven days notice period is sufficient time for BA management to do the sensible thing and reopen meaningful negotiations.”

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