United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Pilots union withdraws OpenSkies objections
Pilots union BALPA has withdrawn from legal proceedings which could have threatened the launch of new British Airways transatlantic arm OpenSkies.
The union accepted in court that its ballot in support of industrial action was time-expired and gave an undertaking not to pursue any future ballot on the same issue, according to the airline.
BAPLA withdrew its action on the fourth day of trial – and halfway through the cross-examination of its BA branch chairman.
BA said: “We welcome the withdrawal of proceedings by BALPA, which represents acknowledgement by the union that the creation of our subsidiary, OpenSkies, poses no threat to the jobs, pay or conditions of mainline British Airways pilots.
“In January, we offered guarantees that OpenSkies would not be used to worsen the terms and conditions of BA mainline pilots. These guarantees remain in place.
“We are proud of the professionalism and high reputation of our pilots. We never wanted or sought a conflict with them.”
OpenSkies will operate its first flight from Paris to New York on June 19. Tickets went on sale today (see previous TravelMole story).
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations