15/12/2009 / Unite ballot closed with vote in favour of industrial action

We are aware that Unite, the trade union that represents British Airways’ (BA) cabin crew, has announced that its strike ballot has closed with a vote in favour of industrial action between December 22, 2009 and January 2, 2010.

British Airways is extremely disappointed that Unite is planning massive disruption for hundreds of thousands of our customers over the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

Our operational planning teams are now working flat-out to put in place a flying schedule for the strike period that helps as many customers as possible.

We aim to announce this schedule as soon as possible.

In the meantime customers with a booking between December 22, 2009 and January 2, 2010 can change the date of their trip free of charge.

We believe that the threat of strike action by Unite is highly regrettable and completely unjustified.

Against a background of record losses, we have put forward a package of measures for cabin crew that reduces no-one’s terms and conditions, gives most crew pay rises of up to seven per cent and creates opportunities for voluntary redundancy and switches to part-time working.

Customers who are booked to travel between December 22, 2009 and January 2, 2010 plus 48 hours on either side who would like to take their flight at a different time can change to another BA flight departing in the next twelve months if they wish to do so.

Customers who booked through travel agents are asked to contact their agent.