A strike by British Airways (BA) cabin crew cost more than US$10 million a day, the airline said on Monday, as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown sought to limit pre-election fallout from the industrial dispute.
The loss-making airline ran 78 percent of its long-haul flights and 50 per cent of its short-haul flights over the first two days of the strike over planned changes to pay and conditions, it said.
“Contingency plans for the three days of industrial disruption have been very successful,” it said in a statement, adding that 68 percent of seats were filled on long-haul and 69 percent on short-haul flights.
PHOTO: AFP
“Current best estimate is that the three-day industrial action will cost £7 million (US$10.5 million) a day,” it said.
Referring to a further threatened action including a four-day strike starting on Saturday, it said: “Assessment of the cost of potential future industrial action can only be made after the event.”
“As a result full year earnings expectations to March 31, 2010 remains broadly unchanged,” it said.
The dispute centers on attempts by loss-making BA to downgrade its employees’ pay and perks packages, which are among the most lucrative in the industry.
BA and the Unite union — which represents its 12,000 cabin crew — disputed the strike’s impact at the weekend. The airline claimed it had held up well, but Unite said fewer than 20 percent of crew had turned up for work.
Brown is battling to prevent the strike — also threatening Easter holiday plans next weekend unless a deal is struck — clouding his political hopes weeks ahead of a general election expected on May 6.
But a business group warned on Monday that the action threatens Britain’s global reputation.
“The strike is reminiscent of a best-forgotten era,” said Jo Valentine, head of business group London First. “The message from BA’s London-based business customers to both sides is: get back to the negotiating table, and to union members: get back to work in the meantime.”
A full BA service was set to resume rapidly yesterday after the first three-day action ends — but unless a solution is found, staff will walk out again on Saturday for four days.
A spokesman for Brown said the premier was following developments very closely.
“The prime minister has always been conscious throughout this period that the people who really suffer are the customers,” he said.
Unite chief Tony Woodley meanwhile called for more talks with BA management.
“The economics of the madhouse should now be put to one side,” he said, addressing workers near Heathrow Airport, west of London. “We need to reach a sensible, fair deal, to get this company up and running again, to get passengers flying again, to get all of the planes off the ground.”
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