The High Court has ruled in favour of British Airways today in its clash with union Unite.
Unite challenged the debt-ridden airline’s cost-cutting measures which included reducing crew numbers in cabin, saying this contravened contracts.
But BA chairman Willie Walsh will barely have time to celebrate before his next challenge on Monday when ballot results will reveal whether the airline is set to face a series of strike actions from cabin crew..
Walsh has told airline insiders that 1000 pilots will train as cabin crew in order to keep the carrier flying through union action.
He showed his hand at a monthly meeting of the Association of European Airlines in Brussels this week.
Pilots already have the security clearance and safety knowledge to allow them to easily take on the role of crew.
An airline source is reported to have revealed: “Willie Walsh made no bones about it. He told all the airline bosses at the meeting ‘we now have 1,000 pilots who are going to train as cabin crew and act as crew on the flights.’ He also said he expected the strike would go ahead.”
By Dinah Hatch
