BA flies into new turbulence as strikers get ready to hit flights

A FRESH war of words between British Airways and the union representing its cabin crew flared as the airline prepared for another strike over jobs and cost-cutting.

The company said it would fly more than 75 per cent of customers booked to travel during the four days of strike action which began today, adding it expected to handle more than 180,000 of the 240,000 people who had planned to travel between today and Tuesday.

BA said a further 18 per cent have been re-booked to travel on other carriers, or changed the dates of their BA flights.

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Meanwhile Unite claimed the dispute may be costing the airline far more than the City, its shareholders and its investors realised, warning that the financial and reputation damage to BA was far in excess of what the company has acknowledged.

The union said the overall seven-day dispute would cost the airline about 100m, twice the 7m a day that BA told the City about earlier this week.

BA reiterated that it told the Stock Exchange on Monday that the "current best estimate" of the cost of the first round of strikes was 7m a day, and that assessment of the cost of subsequent strikes would only be possible after they had taken place.

BA said that, over the next four days, it would fly a full, normal schedule from Gatwick and London City Airports.

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At Heathrow, BA said it would operate 70 per cent of its long-haul programme (up from 60 per cent in the first strike period March 20-22) and 55 per cent of its short-haul programme (up from 30 per cent).

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "The vast majority of BA staff, including thousands of cabin crew, are pulling together to serve our customers and keep our flag flying.

"At the same time, I feel really sorry for those customers whose plans have been ruined by the Unite union's completely unjustified action. Despite the union's promises, this strike has affected the Easter holiday plans of thousands of hard-working people."

Mr Walsh stood firm on the airline's decision to withdraw travel perks from striking cabin crew, saying staff knew they would lose their travel concessions if they joined the three-day walkout last weekend.

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His defiance came after almost 100 employment relations experts from around Britain signed a letter accusing him of wanting to "break the union", questioning the company's motives for rejecting Unite's acceptance of its previous offer.

Unite also accused BA of "unacceptable anti-union bullying" by taking away the travel perks.

The union has insisted any peace deal must now include giving back travel concessions to cabin crew, as well as reinstating a number of staff who have been suspended as a result of the dispute.

A Unite spokesman said: "The union calls again for BA and its board to stop this self-inflicted trashing of its brand and work with Unite on a sensible, negotiated agreement which will be money in the bank for shareholders, and will keep a world-famous brand airborne."

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Picket lines will again be mounted outside Heathrow and other airports this weekend.

The union has ruled out strikes over Easter but has warned of fresh action from April 14 if the deadlock is not broken.

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