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Strike threat hit BA passenger load factor
The strike threat by British Airways cabin crew cost the airline an estimated £80 million in lost revenue.
Revealing its traffic and capacity statistics for January, the airline said its forecasted revenue growth for the full year has been reduced to 3.25 – 3.75%.
It said passenger load factor in January was down 3 percentage points over last year, to 69.5%.
The decrease is due to a a 3.1% drop in premium traffic and a 2.7% decrease in non-premium traffic.
“This month’s statistics were significantly impacted by the threat of industrial action. Premium volumes suffered the largest reductions as most tickets are flexible and refundable, and customers are easily able to move to other carriers,” said a BA statement.
“The market continues to show good demand in premium cabins. The weakness in some non-premium segments is also still a feature. The revenue outlook for the fourth quarter has been impacted by the threat of industrial action by the T&G.”
The airline initially cancelled 1,300 flights over two days. When the strike was averted, it reinstated its full schedule and held a seat sale of 500,000 tickets.
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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