British Airways has cancelled nearly all of its flights Monday and Tuesday, September 9 and 10, after pilots went on strike, CNN reports. In July, the airline lost a bid for a court injunction against industrial action, which led to the possibility of the strike. More than 200,000 passengers are affected by the first such strike in the airline’s history.
“We understand the frustration and disruption BALPA’s (British Airline Pilots' Association) strike action has caused you. After many months of trying to resolve the pay dispute, we are extremely sorry that it has come to this,” a statement by British Airways reads.
“Unfortunately, with no detail from BALPA on which pilots would strike, we had no way of predicting how many would come to work or which aircraft they are qualified to fly, so we had no option but to cancel nearly 100 per cent our flights.”
If your flight is cancelled, British Airways says do not go to the airport. If you think your flight may be affected, check your flight status in Manage My Booking (where you can also rebook or refund your flight).
The strikes are the result of pilots rejecting an 11.5 percent pay increase over three years. Instead, pilots sought a profit-sharing arrangement. British Airways said other labor unions, representing nearly 90 percent of all staff, which includes engineers, cabin crew and ground staff, accepted the 11.5 percent increase.
The British Airline Pilots' Association is planning another strike for September 27.
Flights on BA CityFlyer (flights operated from London City airport), SUN-AIR and Comair are unaffected.
Related Stories
Select MacBook Pros Grounded Following Battery Recall
Brussels Airlines Announces Flights to Montreal in 2020
All Nippon Airways Promoting UN's Sustainable Development Goals
Singapore Airlines Announces New Wellness Dishes Aboard Select Flights