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Second BA strike disrupts flights Second BA strike disrupts flights
(about 3 hours later)
More British Airways flights have been cancelled during a second strike by the firm's cabin crew. British Airways (BA) has cancelled almost a hundred flights from Heathrow during the first day of a second weekend of strike action by cabin crew.
According to live departure boards, 93 scheduled flights that were due to depart from Heathrow on Saturday have already been cancelled. But BA hopes to fly three-quarters of its passengers through the four-day strike, which began on Saturday.
BA has said it expects to fly 75% of passengers and predicts less disruption than during last weekend's strike, when cabin crew walked out for three days. In an online message, boss Willie Walsh said BA was doing "everything possible" to achieve that and was "absolutely committed to resolving this dispute".
The strike is due to run from Saturday until Tuesday 30 March. The Unite union has warned industrial action could continue after Easter.
Steve Turner, from the Unite union, warned further strike action was likely to occur after the Easter period unless an agreement was reached over changes to pay and conditions. BA and Unite are in dispute over the airline's cost-cutting plans, which include reducing the numbers of cabin crew on long-haul flights.
BA said customers affected by the strike had been informed of flight cancellations five days ago.
Steve Turner, Unite: "There will be no settlement without staff travel concessions having been returned"
Of the 240,000 customers originally booked to fly in the strike period, 180,000 will fly either on BA aircraft, or on those hired from other carriers.
Another 43,000 have rebooked with other carriers or changing flight dates, with around 17,000 left unable to travel because of strike cancellations, BA said.
London City was operating as normal and flights from Gatwick were expected to be unaffected, BA said.
It said dozens of flights had already departed from Heathrow and at least 70% of long-haul flights and 55% of short-haul flights are expected to operate normally.
The numbers of cabin crew reporting at the airport were "currently at the levels we need to operate our published schedule", BA said.
Unite said six planes leaving from Heathrow were loaded with passengers then unloaded because no cabin crews were available, but BA denied the claim.
ANALYSIS Joe Lynam, BBC business correspondentANALYSIS Joe Lynam, BBC business correspondent
Unite and its striking members will feel vindicated today when they read a leaked report in today's papers which suggested that an outside adviser to the airline had urged BA management last year to "hit the union where it hurts".Unite and its striking members will feel vindicated today when they read a leaked report in today's papers which suggested that an outside adviser to the airline had urged BA management last year to "hit the union where it hurts".
While the company flatly rejected that that is its policy, the article - alongside Friday's letter from 116 academics, which accused BA of adopting "macho policies" - appears to chime with union concerns that it is in a battle for survival with a belligerent and motivated employer.While the company flatly rejected that that is its policy, the article - alongside Friday's letter from 116 academics, which accused BA of adopting "macho policies" - appears to chime with union concerns that it is in a battle for survival with a belligerent and motivated employer.
Nonetheless the airline's tail - or tailfin - is up as it increases the number of planes flying from Heathrow compared to last weekend's strike, as well as reducing to 7% the total number of its customers which could not be accommodated either by it or rival airlines.Nonetheless the airline's tail - or tailfin - is up as it increases the number of planes flying from Heathrow compared to last weekend's strike, as well as reducing to 7% the total number of its customers which could not be accommodated either by it or rival airlines.
Hundreds of strikers have been gathering at a football ground close to Heathrow since 6am and are taking turns to picket the airport. The vast majority of cancellations were at Heathrow.
One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the BBC she had worked for BA for 11 years and loved her job, but felt she had to "show her support for the union". Mr Walsh, in a video message posted on the BA website on Saturday evening, said he had spoken to customers at the airport's Terminal 5.
She said although she could understand cuts were necessary, her basic pay was £11,000 and cabin crew allowances could be low. "There were a lot of people around but you would expect that given that our schedule today is significantly more than we had planned last weekend."
At Manchester airport, one out of 12 departures and one out of 10 arrivals were cancelled on Saturday morning. He said there had been "a good atmosphere over there - customers are still very happy, very pleased to be getting away, getting to their destinations".
"At the same time, I am deeply sorry to those customers who have had their holidays and their plans disrupted."
He said Gatwick was "operating as normal" while BA said its flights from London City airport had also been unaffected.
There have been a handful of cancellations at Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow airports.
BBC correspondent Richard Slee said that, at Heathrow, about a quarter of BA departures had been cancelled up until late afternoon.
This compared with about half on Saturday evening.
In total, the airline expects to cancel 93 out of approximately 270 departures from Heathrow on Saturday.
'Biggest contingency'
Unite, meanwhile, has said that, with no sign of agreement over changes to pay and conditions, further strike action after Easter is likely.
The union said six planes leaving from Heathrow were loaded with passengers then unloaded because no cabin crews were available, but BA denied the claim.
Passenger Jill Kelly: 'It's costing at least £1000 extra'
Unite also claimed BA had handed the operation of some European flights over to eight other operators.
A spokesman for the airline said it had been "operating up to 55% of short-haul flights, up from 30% last strike period".
"The lion's share" of the flights had been on BA aircraft with fewer other aircraft leased than during last weekend's action, he added.
BA said it had deployed "the biggest contingency plan in our history" to try to limit the impact of the strikes.BA said it had deployed "the biggest contingency plan in our history" to try to limit the impact of the strikes.
Despite those measures it estimates that last week's three day stoppage cost the company £21m. Despite those measures, it estimates that last week's three-day stoppage cost the company £21m.
But Unite national officer Brian Boyd told the BBC some City analysts had estimated the seven days of action would cost BA about £105m.But Unite national officer Brian Boyd told the BBC some City analysts had estimated the seven days of action would cost BA about £105m.
'Macho' Walsh Meanwhile, BA has said that travel perks withdrawn from striking staff will never be reinstated. BA staff are able to buy flights for 10% of the face value - a deal that can be extended to friends and family.
Compared to the £10m BA needed to resolve the dispute it "just did not make sense", he said. Steve Turner, Unite: "There will be no settlement without staff travel concessions having been returned"
The stoppage strikes comes amid controversy over BA's conduct during the industrial dispute.
In a letter to the Guardian newspaper on Friday, a total of 116 industrial relations academics accused chief executive Mr Walsh of adopting a "macho" approach, aimed at breaking the power of the union.
Passenger Jill Kelly: 'It's costing at least £1000 extra'
However BA rejected the accusations, pointing to the three days of negotiations with Unite attended by Mr Walsh in the run up to the first strike.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Walsh said that there were currently no plans to reopen talks with the union.
He also said that travel perks withdrawn from striking staff would never be reinstated. BA staff are able to buy flights for 10% of the face value - a deal that can be extended to friends and family.
Unite called the withdrawal of the perks "unacceptable anti-union bullying".Unite called the withdrawal of the perks "unacceptable anti-union bullying".
Unite's Steve Turner said the union was "absolutely crystal clear" there would be no settlement without staff travel concessions being returned.Unite's Steve Turner said the union was "absolutely crystal clear" there would be no settlement without staff travel concessions being returned.
The union is seeking legal advice over the travel concession issue. The union is seeking legal advice over the issue.
Willie Walsh (r) denies he is trying to "break" the union
It is also consulting lawyers about what it says is a move by BA to deny pay to strike breakers beyond strike dates.
A BA spokesman said: "We are absolutely in compliance with the legislation.A BA spokesman said: "We are absolutely in compliance with the legislation.
"Where a crew member has called in sick, they will have the opportunity to meet with their manager to explain the reasons."Where a crew member has called in sick, they will have the opportunity to meet with their manager to explain the reasons.
"The manager has the discretion to reinstate pay and staff travel.""The manager has the discretion to reinstate pay and staff travel."
BA and Unite are in dispute over the airline's cost cutting plans, which include reducing the numbers of cabin crew on long-haul flights. Analysts say BA needs to bring down its costs significantly.
Analysts say BA needs to bring down its costs significantly. It is expected to announce the biggest loss in its privatised history when it reports its annual results later this year. It is expected to announce the biggest loss in its privatised history when it reports its annual results later this year.
Last year it lost more than £400m.Last year it lost more than £400m.
Will your travel plans be disrupted by the strike this weekend? Or are you a BA cabin crew member? You can send us your experiences using the form below:Will your travel plans be disrupted by the strike this weekend? Or are you a BA cabin crew member? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
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