40 flights cancelled as cabin crew begin 48-hour strike

Staff reporter(wp/es):

Around 40 British Airways flights have been cancelled as hundreds of the airline's cabin crew walked out in a row over pay. 

British Airways said around 40 Heathrow flights had to be cancelled in response to the 48-hour strike which began on Tuesday.

The airline stressed however that all passengers would be able to reach their destination as passengers on cancelled flights had been rebooked on other services. 

This means some passengers will have to travel on flights departing at different times to their original booking but BA said its customers were informed of their new travel arrangments on Friday so they could plan their trips.

The airline said all flights to and from Gatwick and London City airports will operate as normal.  

The 48-hour strike, which started at midnight on Tuesday, is being conducted by so-called “mixed-fleet” cabin crew who represent around 15 per cent of stewards at the airline.

“Mixed-fleet” crew based at Heathrow have argued they are unfairly paid less than other cabin crew.

The Heathrow-based crew threatened to go on strike over Christmas but the action was suspended following last-minute talks with BA. 

Unite said since 2010 all British Airways new cabin crew employees joined mixed fleet, with basic pay starting at £12,192, plus £3 an hour "flying pay" totalling an average pay of £16,000, including allowances, each year.

"These poverty pay levels for cabin crew are below the living wage and are among the lowest in the industry, putting the UK's national carrier to shame," the union said a statement.

BA responded: "The pay data shows that the range of earnings paid out to full-time mixed fleet crew between September 2015 and August 2016 was £21,151- £27,356. 

"Our proposal for our mixed fleet cabin crew reflects pay awards given by other companies in the UK and will ensure their reward levels remain in line with cabin crew at our airline competitors. 

“It is also consistent with pay deals agreed with Unite for other British Airways colleagues.”

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: "Going on strike is never an easy decision, so we are pleased with the numbers of 'mixed fleet' cabin crew who have taken the courageous step to take a stand against poverty pay at British Airways. 

"This is a low paid workforce struggling to make ends meet on wages which are among the lowest in the airline industry." 

BA said: "As part of our contingency plan, we will be merging a very small number of flights to and from Heathrow.

"This will mean some customers will travel slightly earlier or later in the day than their original booking.”

Unite said over 800 "mixed fleet" crew had joined the union since the start of the dispute, taking its membership to over 2,900.