BA strike action continues

Unite and BA clashed over the impact of the first two days of a three-day walkout, giving different statements about the numbers supporting the action.

Yesterday Joint leader of the union Tony Woodley called on BA chairman Martin Broughton and "sensible" directors to intervene in the dispute.

He said he was certain that the vast majority of Unite members had taken industrial action.

"Contrary to the spin from the company about this strike collapsing, only nine cabin crew have broken ranks and 80 have gone sick.

"I am now appealing to the BA chairman and sensible members of the board to use their influence, put passengers first, and return to the negotiating table for the good of everyone.

"It is quite obvious this strike is in no one's interest. We need a negotiated settlement."

The three days of strike action end today with a further four-day walkout planned from next Saturday.

Mr Woodley said he was "ashamed" when he saw TV pictures of strikers concealing their faces to avoid being identified.

BA said it had reinstated a number of cancelled flights this weekend after maintaining that more crew than expected had turned up for work.

A spokesman said that as of 6pm yesterday, 97.6 per cent of Gatwick crew had reported to work as normal and 52 per cent of Heathrow crew.

He added: "We will continue to offer the fullest support to our cabin crew who want to work as normal."

The airline said its contingency plans had worked "well" and that extra flights had been added to its schedule due to the number of crew reporting for work.

Posting a video statement on YouTube, Mr Walsh dismissed claims that BA planes had been left parked at Shannon Airport in West Ireland.

Mr Walsh said there had been a "good atmosphere" among BA staff at Heathrow yesterday and claimed a large number of cabin crew staff had turned up for work.

He added: "We promised we would keep BA flying, that's exactly what we've done. I'm delighted that so many people in British Airways have come together to make sure that we keep the flag flying."

Unite said that over the weekend, of 2,220 cabin crew rostered to work, only 300 were thought to have turned up.

This may include those already sent overseas and heading back, said the union.

But on Saturday BA insisted 1,157 cabin crew ignored the first day of the three-day stoppage and reported for duty.

At Heathrow airport Canadian Stephanie Matteo, 26, faced a 24-hour delay getting home from a holiday with her boyfriend in Thailand because of the strike.

She was waiting in Terminal 5 with all her baggage, unable to check it in after the holiday during which her boyfriend proposed.

She said: "It's a bit frustrating because I want to get home. What's frustrating the most is that the Canadian dollar is weak against the pound and food and drink here cost three times more."

Diane Huntley, 50, and her daughter Robin, from Maine in America, endured a nine-hour bus trip from Edinburgh when their connecting flight to Heathrow Terminal 5 was cancelled.