Thomas Cook pilots to strike after court ruling

A strike by pilots at Thomas Cook will go ahead tomorrow after a judge refused to grant an injunction preventing the walkout.

It is believed to be the first strike by UK pilots since the mid-1970s.

Members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association will strike for 12 hours from 3am in a dispute over pay.

Mr Justice Lavender dismissed the application after Thomas Cook unsuccessfully argued that the ballot was invalid because the voting paper did not indicate a period within which the action was expected to take place. The turnout was 88 per cent with 91 per cent of pilots voting for action.