British Airways pilots will hit passengers with fresh strikes later this month after a two-day walkout reportedly cost the airline £80 million.
The airline cancelled up to one in ten flights today worldwide as disruption continues after 48 hours of strike action by its pilots.
The airline, which operates 850 flights daily, said earlier today that it was planning on operating more than 90 per cent of its services, but thousands of passengers still face more delays.
It said almost half the airline’s 300 planes and more than 700 pilots started the day in the wrong place, meaning there would be disruption.
The British flag-carrier said their ‘highly complex, global operation’ means that it will take ‘some time to get back to a completely normal flight schedule.’
It cancelled at least 71 Heathrow flights and 18 Gatwick flights. Most of the passengers affected were due to fly on domestic or European routes, although long-haul flights from destinations such as the US, India and Pakistan were also cancelled.
The airline, which operates 850 flights a day, said that it is planning on operating up to 90 per cent of its services. Pictured: British Airways planes parked on the runway at Heathrow Terminal Five during the walkout
The airline is offering affected customers refunds or the option to re-book to another date of travel or an alternative airline, and they have told customers to keep checking for updates on their website.
Almost 195,000 passengers had their travel plans plunged into chaos after the first two-day walkout in the airline’s 100 year history, which began on Monday.
Members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said its members strongly supported the strikes, which caused the cancellation of more than 1,700 flights.
But passengers have been told to expect yet more delays and confusion after the strike ended at midnight last night.
Would-be passengers including Kumar Patel, above, accused BA of ‘disgraceful’ service
And Twitter user WIllie Edward accused pilots of being ‘selfish’ over their industrial action
British Airways has had to cancel nearly 100 per cent of its flights at London Heathrow , leaving terminals (like Heathrow Terminal 5, pictured) deserted
An image taken from FlightRadar24 yesterday shows no British Airways flights worldwide
An empty lounge at Heathrow Terminal Five on Monday morning after the strike action got underway
A spokesman said: ‘We are very sorry for the disruption Balpa’s industrial action has caused our customers.
‘We are doing everything we can to get back to normal and to get our customers to their destinations.’
‘It added: The nature of our highly complex, global operation means that it will take some time to get back to a completely normal flight schedule however, we plan to fly more than 90% of our flights today.’
It said in an earlier statement, BA said: ‘Due to the union’s strike action, nearly half of our fleet of over 300 aircraft and more than 700 pilots will start the day in the wrong place.
‘In addition, more than 4,000 cabin crew have had disruption to their rosters, and in many cases will be unable to operate again for several days due to legal rest requirements.
‘Every single flight movement also has to factor in detailed planning, including engineering checks, maintenance, catering, fuelling, baggage loading, cargo and cleaning.’
Departures from London Heathrow this morning appear to be mostly unaffected – but there are still a number of cancelled flights.
The cancellations appear to be hitting departures to European destinations.
The 8.20am flight to Geneva, the 8.45am flight to Aberdeen and the 8.55am to Charles de Gaulle were cancelled.
There are ten cancelled flights between 9am and 11am.
It was reported today that striking British Airways captains have been hit in the pocket by an average of £20,820.47 in pay and other benefits.
In a leaked document seen by The Sun, BA bosses outlined some of the cuts those that took part in the walkout will now face.
According to the paper each striker was deducted £3,320.47 for ‘23.83 bidline hours which was the credit value for the trip impacted by the industrial action’.
Any new trip within the next five days will only be paid at a ‘single rate’ rather than a ‘premium’ fee – costing captains, depending on their salary, an approximate £1,000.
They are also no longer eligible for the annual ‘All Colleague Bonus’, costing them an average £1,000. The ban lasts for three years, meaning a £3,000 shortfall, the paper reports.
Pilots were also instructed they have been stripped of the ‘Deferred Bonus Plan’, costing them an average of £2,000 – or £6,000 over three years.
BA also yesterday underlined to pilots their staff travel is axed for three years.
Pilots lose unlimited 10 per cent ‘standby’ flights for friends and family, costing them an approximate £1,000 a year, or £3,000 total.
They also lose out on confirmed ‘hotline’ flight bookings, predicted to cost them £500 a year, or a three year sum of £1,500.
Yesterday planes were grounded for yet another day, with only a few BA flights scheduled from Gatwick and Heathrow.
Long-haul flights resumed to places like Dubai and New York after midnight, when the strike action ended.
The union is still planning a further 24-hour strike on September 27, unless the deadlocked row is resolved.
Balpa said the strike cost BA £40 million a day.
Striking pilots are also counting the cost after being stripped of their staff travel perks for the next three years, it has emerged.
Cockpit crew have reportedly lost access to the 90 per cent discount on any flight which will also hit their family and friends who benefited from the deal.
They will also not be able to use ‘hotline bookings’ which confirmed flights at a discount, in a move that will cost them tens of thousands of pounds.
The Arrivals Hall in Terminal Five at Heathrow Airport, London, on day one of the first-ever strike by British Airways pilots
British Airways planes parked at the Engineering Base at Heathrow Airport on Monday morning
The hardest hit will be crew who live overseas and use the perks to commute to work from Heathrow or Gatwick.
In the ongoing dispute BA has offered a pay rise of 11.5% over three years, which it says would boost the pay of some captains to £200,000, but Balpa says its members want a bigger share of the company’s profits.
BA spent weeks offering refunds to passengers or the option to rebook on another date of travel or an alternative airline.
Both sides have said they want to resume talks, but there is little sign of the deadlock being broken.
Balpa said the strikes had been a ‘powerful demonstration’ of the strength of feeling of BA pilots, and urged the airline to return to the negotiating table with some ‘meaningful proposals’ to try to avert the next scheduled strike.
A union statement said: ‘Should British Airways refuse meaningful negotiations, further strike dates will be considered by the Balpa national executive team.’
General secretary Brian Strutton said: ‘Surely any reasonable employer would listen to such a clear message, stop threatening and bullying, and start working towards finding a solution.’