British Airways News Page 94
BA deadlocked with unions over job cuts
British Airways and trade unions have failed to reach an agreement on cost cutting and compulsory redundancies, sparking fears of proposed strike action.The flag carrier had set a deadline of last night to finalise a programme of measures, including cutting 3,500 jobs. However it was unable to reach an agreement because of a number of sticking points, including concerns over the number of redundancies, as well as arrangements for consulting over job losses.
BA announce further changes to winter schedule
British Airways is today announcing further changes to its winter schedule including increasing the number of flights to Warsaw and Istanbul.From October 25, the airline will move from two to three flights a day from Heathrow to Warsaw and Istanbul.
BA meets unions to avert summer strike action
British Airways is bracing itself for a series of summer strike action as cabin crew unions meet with management today over redundancies and a radical cost-cutting programme.
BA accused of bullying as 7,000 accede to pay cuts
Unions have stepped up their battle with British Airways by accusing the management of “bullying” and being “unrealistic to the needs of workers” after the airline disclosed that 800 employees had accepted its request to work for nothing.The volunteers for unpaid work are among 6,940 staff who agreed to take a pay cut in a move that the flag carrier says will save up to £10m.
British Airways launches new routes to the Caribbean
British Airways is launching new twice-weekly flights to Montego Bay in Jamaica and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, reinforcing its position as the airline with more flights to the Caribbean than any other UK carrier. The new routes commence October 2009 with the airline also increasing services to other Caribbean favourites. Richard Tams, head of sales, commented that they are “popular destinations with our customers and it’s due to demand that we’re increasing the number of flights to the region.”
BA could start charging for wine and peanuts
British Airways could start charging for extras such as wine and peanuts as it desperately grapples to cut costs.The airline’s chief executive, Willie Walsh, said he was considering following arch rivals such as Ryanair that charge for such items.
BA eyes OpenSkies disposal
British Airways is mulling a disposal of its OpenSkies subsidiary as it desperately grapples to curb growing losses.City sources say BA could either wind up or sell its off-shoot, which currently operates flights from Paris and Amsterdam to the US, in a move that highlights the sharp decline in business passengers flying Transatlantic.
Pilots union agrees to landmark BA pay cut
British Airways has struck a landmark deal with the pilot’s union backing pilots taking a pay cut, and accepting shares worth £13 million instead of pay. Some 78 jobs are also to go under a voluntary redundancy package.The deal between the airline and the British Airline Pilots Association (Balps) would see 3,200 pilots accept a 2.61 percent cut in their basic pay from October, plus a 20 percent reduction in the additional money pilots are paid while flying.
BA calls for hike in global carbon tax
British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has sparked controversy by demanding that all airline passengers pay more for their flights to compensate for their environmental impact.The airline becomes the first in the world to propose that all airline passengers pay the additional sum, which would be used to combat tropical deforestation and help the developing world adapt to climate change. It proposes that the tax would raise in the order of £3bn annually.
BA locked in union talks over job cuts
British Airways has begun talks with trade unions over job cuts, and has set a deadline of 30 June for an agreement to be reached.BA is locked in talks with Unite union about cost cuts related to cabin crew and baggage handlers, and an industry source said the negotiations were progressing less smoothly than with the pilots, who have agreed to voluntary pay cuts.
Strikes loom as BA says 2,000 cabin crew must go
British Airways has told flight attendants that it wants to cut 2,000 jobs, sparking fears of a summer of strike action.Chief executive Willie Walsh has also set a three-week deadline to agree to the reductions, saying the redundancies would, if necessary, be compulsory as his airline attempts to cut its 14,000-strong team of cabin crew to 12,000.
BA and American Airlines blind to dominance at Heathrow
Virgin Atlantic, one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines, today highlighted the contradictions and lack of consumer benefits in BA and American Airline’s proposals to effectively merge.