BA seeks court ban on pilots’ summer strike

‘We have tried to resolve this matter through negotiation. It is BA who has regrettably chosen to drag this out’

BRITISH Airways is going to the High Court today to block its pilots’ potentially disruptive summer walkout.

It wants an injunction to stop strikes, led by the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa). The airline said it was pursuing “every avenue to find a solution to protect our customers’ travel plans and avoid industrial action” and urged pilots to resume negotiations.

The sides appeared headed for court as more than nine in 10 of the Balpa members voted for what would be the first strike action by BA pilots in four decades. Talks at the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) lasted just three days before breaking down. The row centres on BA’S offer of an 11.5pc pay rise over three years, plus a sharesave scheme and profit-sharing.

Balpa said it would not reopen talks while injunction proceedings are active. It says the cost of settling the row is the same as a one-day strike.

The walkout could be as early as next month, threatening thousands of holidays. Mr Strutton said: “We do not wish to inconvenience our customers. We have tried to resolve this matter through negotiation ... it is BA who has regrettably chosen to drag this out.”

Unions for cabin and ground crew want them to accept BA’S pay offers.

A spokesman said BA was “disappointed” but added: “We remain open to working with Balpa to reach an agreement. Our proposed pay offer of 11.5pc over three years is fair.”