LONDON – British Airways cabin crew who took part in the Unite union’s three-day strike will lose their travel perks permanently, the company has said.
Staff are eligible for free and heavily discounted flights, depending on how long they have worked for BA.
Unite condemned the move as “vindictive” and said it would challenge it.
A BA spokesman said, “Staff travel offers heavily discounted travel to employees. This is a non-contractual perk that the company can withdraw at its discretion.â€
One in five BA flights were affected by Unite’s three-day strike at British Airways, costing the airline £21m.
But chief executive Willie Walsh has said this weekend’s strikes, which will see 12,000 staff walk out, will affect fewer passengers.
He said fewer flights would be cancelled because more crew would cross the picket line.
Said Walsh, “As a result of the numbers of crew wanting to work, we are increasing significantly our flying schedule and will be operating a full schedule at Gatwick and London City airports.”
At Heathrow, BA wants to fly 70 percent of long-haul and 55 percent of short-haul flights.
But Unite’s joint general secretary Tony Woodley rubbished the statement, saying the schedule “had more holes in it than a Swiss cheeseâ€.
BA isn’t the only airline in Europe suffering from industrial unrest. Lufthansa pilots will stage a four day walkout in April and Portugal’s TAP is to strike this weekend over pay.
