Relief for passengers as BA pilots agree pay deal with the airline ending dispute that caused cancellation chaos in September
- British Airways pilots have accepted a revised pay offer Balpa union confirmed
- Heathrow Airport was worst affected by two-day walkout in September
- BA had offered a pay rise of 11.5% over 3 years but pilots demanded larger share
British Airways pilots have accepted a revised pay deal to bring an end to the cancellation chaos that affected thousands of passengers this year.
The union Balpa confirmed the ballot paper closed today after pilots voted on a new deal.
Some 1,700 flights due to carry nearly 200,000 passengers were grounded during a two-day strike in September.
Heathrow Airport was worst affected by the walkout leaving Terminal Five like a ghost town.
Some 1,700 flights due to carry nearly 200,000 passengers were grounded during a two-day strike in September (Tim Ockenden/PA)
The action was staged by the British Airlines Pilots Association (Balpa) union after its members turned down an inflation-busting pay rise of 11.5 per cent over three years.
Nearly 3,000 pilots went on strike in September causing sweeping cancellations and £80million in lost revenue.
Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton said during the strike that its members had taken ‘big pay cuts to help the company through hard times’.
Tens of thousands of passengers were affected with Heathrow Terminal Five, pictured, left like a ghost town
The union said in a statement on Monday: ‘A ballot of British Airways pilots closed today following the dispute over pay and terms and conditions.
‘Members of Balpa employed by British Airways voted nearly nine to one to accept the final agreement which was proposed by Acas (the conciliation service) and recommended by Balpa and its British Airways reps.’