BA warns striking pilots: We’ll axe your cheap f lights

BRITISH Airways may remove a cheap flights perk from striking pilots in the wake of next week’s crippling walkout.

The bulk of the airline’s flights are likely to be cancelled next Monday and Tuesday in the first ever strike action by BA pilots.

Members of the Balpa union will also strike on Friday, September 27. Talks broke down after both sides refused to budge.

More than 3,000 Balpa members who fly for BA – including captains paid an average of £167,000 – have rejected an 11.5 per cent pay rise over three years plus a 1 per cent bonus.

As a result, the carrier is weighing up whether to strip travel allowances from striking pilots as bosses fear the industrial action will cost the airline up to £40million a day.

As it stands, BA staff who have been at the firm for more than six months can buy ‘standby’ tickets for themselves and up to three family members. They are only charged 10 per cent of the full fare, but still have to pay airport taxes.

After five years, pilots are allowed an annual business class flight with their family anywhere in the world, paying only the tax on the flight.

Last night an aviation source confirmed that BA is considering stripping these perks for a set period to punish striking pilots but added that such sanctions have not yet been confirmed. Pilots said the airline could announce the measures this week, which would be the same discipline handed out to striking cabin crew. In 2017 the airline said it would withdraw staff travel and discounted family tickets for a year because 2,900 members of cabin crew downed tools. Staff were also threatened with having their bonuses stripped.

During the strike, up to ninein-ten of the airline’s 4,300 pilots are expected to walk out. Early last month BA failed in a legal attempt to block industrial action.

The strike could threaten the holidays of thousands of passengers. BA currently has around 700 flights a day from Heathrow and Gatwick.

But last night The Times reported that as few as ten may take off on the first two days of strikes. The disruption will affect as many as 145,000 passengers a day. BA has not yet confirmed how many flights will be grounded.

Last week, the Daily Mail published pictures of Brian Strutton, Balpa’s £141,000-ayear general secretary, on a Mediterranean cruise with his wife while the travel plans of thousands were in disarray.

Last night BA said: ‘We continue to urge Balpa to return to negotiations so that we can resolve this issue without any further disruption.’

Balpa said: ‘BA have not told pilots what punitive action they intend to take against their workforce, but apparently have leaked it to the Press.’