British Airways Strike: Nearly 100% BA Flights To and From UK's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports Cancelled
The BALPA has demanded the management to implement an 11.5 per cent salary hike for the pilots over a period of three years. The authorities had termed their demand as exorbitant, but had assured to reasonably negotiate. The pilots' union, however, remained firm on their stand and decided to go ahead with the strike.
London, September 9: Nearly 100 per cent of the British Airways flights travelling to and from the United Kingdom's Heathrow and Gatwick airports have been cancelled. The cancellation was triggered after the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) called a strike on Monday and Tuesday to press forward their demand of pay hike. While the strike call had been issued over the weekend, the BA management was not expecting an en-masse abstinence from duty by the pilots.
The BALPA has demanded the management to implement an 11.5 per cent salary hike for the pilots over a period of three years. The authorities had termed their demand as exorbitant, but had assured to reasonably negotiate. The pilots' union, however, remained firm on their stand and decided to go ahead with the strike. Libya: Flights Suspended at Mitiga International Airport After Rocket Fire.
Update by Reuters:
The protest has affected several major flights, including the profitable route to New York, Washington, Los Angeles and Boston from London. Several other to and fro busy routes, including London-Delhi, London-Hong Kong and London-Istanbul will remain suspended for 48 hours.
The British Airways has issued a statement expressing regret for the inconvenience being caused to its flyers across the world. The management has reached out the agitating pilots and urged them to return to the negotiating table.
"We understand the frustration BALPA's (British Airline Pilots' Association) strike action has caused our customers. After months of trying to resolve pay dispute, we're extremely sorry that it has come to this. We remain ready and willing to return to talks with BALPA," the statement said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 09, 2019 11:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).