BA accused of avoiding paying compensation

Union accuses airline of cancelling flights before September strike days to avoid 14-day payout limit

British Airways has been accused by a pilots’ union of cancelling flights “early” to avoid paying compensation to passengers. Balpa, which has thrown holiday plans into doubt with the announcement of three days of strikes next month, claimed the airline was “compounding the mess it has created” by telling passengers their flights had been cancelled. Passengers are only eligible for compensation if they have been given fewer than 14 days’ notice before a cancelled flight.

BRITISH AIRWAYS has been accused by a pilots’ union of cancelling flights “early” to avoid paying out compensation to passengers.

Balpa, which has put the holiday plans of hundreds of passengers in doubt by announcing three days of strikes next month, claimed the airline was “compounding the mess it has created” by contacting passengers to tell them their flights had been cancelled.

It insisted yesterday that it will only return to the negotiating table if BA improves its offer.

It came as Brian Strutton, the general secretary of Balpa, who earns more than £140,000, was pictured at Bournemouth Airport as he headed off on a week-long holiday with his wife and two grown-up sons.

Less than 24 hours after announcing industrial action, on September 9, 10 and 27, he is believed to have flown to Majorca for a European cruise ahead of his 60th birthday. Balpa insisted that senior colleagues were available to continue talks in his absence.

The union has rejected a three-year pay deal worth 11.5 per cent, prompting accusations of “pure greed”.

The pilots’ action would cancel more than 850 flights on each strike day and ruin the travel plans of an estimated 450,000 people.

The union, which represents the majority of BA pilots, told The Daily Telegraph: “If BA confirms it will improve its offer, Balpa will consider that carefully and respond. But so far, BA has neither asked to meet nor confirmed it can improve on its offer. If it does so, senior Balpa officials are available to take part in talks.

“By cancelling flights so early, to avoid compensating customers, the airline has got its focus wrong and is compounding the mess it has created. BA should stop cancelling flights and get back to the negotiating table.”

It continued: “Last week, to avert a strike, BA pilots only asked for BA to return a small amount of what they gave up when the company was losing money. That is not unreasonable, but management refuses to listen.”

Passengers are only eligible for compensation if they have been given fewer than 14 days’ notice before a cancelled flight.

Balpa announced the strike dates on Friday and BA contacted passengers by email later that night and early Saturday morning to alert them that flights would be scrapped.

The airline insisted that its priority was to give customers “as much notice as possible”.

“We will do everything we can to get as many people away on their journeys as possible,” a spokesman said.

“However, it is likely that many of our customers will not be able to travel, and we are offering refunds and rebookings for passengers booked on cancelled flights. We will also provide passenger care obligations – for example, provision of meals, hotel accommodation.”

She added: “Our senior team is available for talks. We continue to pursue every avenue to find a solution to avoid industrial action and protect our customers’ travel plans.”

The problems were compounded when BA erroneously emailed passengers who were due to fly on dates either side of the strike dates to say that their flights were also affected.

It corrected its mistake hours later, but not before many had already booked new flights.