British Airways strike threat: When could the walkout take place and how would flights be affected?

The earliest day a strike could start is 5 August

British Airways is facing possible industrial action this summer from pilots, cabin crew and ground staff.

Here is everything you need to know.

What is the dispute about?

Two disputes are happening simultaneously. The first involves a pay claim covering BA’s main line operation – ie flights to and from Gatwick and Heathrow, but not the separate CityFlyer unit based at London City airport.

For the first time pilots, cabin crew and ground staff are negotiating collectively with British Airways – representing around 40,000 employees.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa), the Unite union and the GMB say the airline is extremely profitable, having made over £1.7bn in profits during the last financial year, and that is largely due to the efforts of staff.

The second is a much narrower issue involving cabin crew working at BA’s Gatwick base. They are unhappy about new rostering arrangements, which they say mean they are not getting enough rest.

What is happening with the pay issue?

British Airways says it is still in talks with Unite and the GMB. But Balpa is conducting a ballot of members working for the airline – which represents around 90 per cent of pilots.

Balpa’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, says: “For the pilots that Balpa represents, it is quite simple: BA has been enormously profitable, and the employees should have a fair share of that success which, after all, they produce for the company.”

British Airways has deplored the ballot. It says it is offering 11.5 per cent over three years, well above the rate of inflation. A BA spokesperson says: “We are extremely disappointed that the pilots' union, Balpa, has raised the prospect of a ballot for industrial action.

“We urge them to join us for mediation with the conciliation service Acas, to reach an agreement and protect hard-working families planning their summer breaks.

“We believe our pay and benefits for pilots are among the best in the industry, with around 1,000 applications from pilots who want to move to us from other airlines every year.”

What happens next?

The pilots’ ballot ends on 22 July. Past experience suggests it is likely to show a strong majority in favour of industrial action. At this point the union can call a strike, giving British Airways two weeks’ notice. The earliest day any strike could commence, therefore, is Monday 5 August.

Alternatively, the union can opt to reopen negotiations with BA, and can maintain the threat of strike action to 22 January 2020. The airline spokesperson said: “A ballot for industrial action is just that. It does not mean there will be disruption at this stage.

“We remain open and flexible to discuss our pay proposal with our colleagues and unions.”

Unite and the GMB have not yet revealed their next moves.

What about the Gatwick dispute?

The Unite union, representing cabin crew at the Sussex airport, has conducted a “consultative ballot” (not a strike ballot) and published its grievance in the form of a video. It begins: “There’s a pretty serious dispute happening at British Airways Gatwick – one that could cause a lot of disruption to customers if it isn’t resolved.

“As many customers know, British Airways has made many cuts over the years.

“In 2017, they axed free food and drink for customers. Now, when BA is reporting £1.9bn profit, the airline says its crew must make even more savings.

“This time, understandably, the cabin crew have said ‘enough’.”

Cabin crew are particular concerned by a reduction in the time “down route” after long-haul flights to Las Vegas. BA is cutting the stay in the Nevada city from two nights to one.

“This means less pay and tired cabin crew who need to be alert in case of emergency,” says Unite.

“These cuts are simply corporate greed and employee exploitation.”

The video warns “if the company goes ahead, all BA flights from Gatwick could be affected” by a strike.

“The only way for customers to guarantee their journeys won’t be disrupted is to book with another airline until the dispute is settled.”

British Airways says the change of rest arrangements at Las Vegas brings Gatwick crews into line with staff at Heathrow, who also fly to the city.

The BA spokesperson said: “This is normal practice and well within industry and regulatory standards. We continue to discuss the matter.”

Haven’t we been here before?

Yes. There is a long tradition of unions in aviation securing large majorities for industrial action and using those as a weapon in negotiation. Because any strike threat hits bookings, even if it fails to materialise, airlines have an extra incentive to settle. But BA has plenty of experience of handling strikes, especially by cabin crew.

A decade ago, plans to overhaul cabin crew pay and conditions led to a bitter dispute that lasted for 18 months and included 22 days of walk-outs that disrupted the plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers.

During the dispute, striking cabin crew were stripped of their staff travel concessions.

The eventual settlement involved establishing a separate unit of Heathrow-based cabin crew known as Mixed Fleet, who are employed on inferior terms.

More recently, Mixed Fleet cabin crew took strike action during much of 2017 in pursuit of a pay claim.

How much disruption would a strike cause?

If you are due to fly before 5 August, there is no risk that your flight will be grounded because of industrial action at British Airways.

Beyond that, it is impossible to say. The effect of a stoppage would depend on the level of support. If all the pilots employed by British Airways who belong to Balpa were to stop work, then most of BA’s operations would rapidly grind to a halt. Similarly, if a majority of cabin crew at Gatwick went on strike over the rostering issue, many flights to and from the Sussex airport would be grounded.

But experienced suggests that support for strikes is patchy. During the 2017 cabin crew dispute, around 1,400 members took part – about one-quarter of the Mixed Fleet total at the time. The airline cancelled a very small percentage of its flights.

What contingencies is British Airways putting in place?

One reason so few flights were cancelled in the 2017 dispute was because it chartered number of aircraft belonging to BA’s part-owner, Qatar Airways. The Airbus A320 jets are under-used due to the geopolitical conflict in the Gulf which prevents Qatar Airways from running its normal short-haul operation.

The same arrangement is likely to apply for any summer strike in 2019.

What are the options if your flight is cancelled?

Passengers are being offered alternative departures on British Airways or other airlines. They may also choose to cancel with a full refund, to postpone the trip or to reroute.

In addition, BA has a duty of care to any passengers disrupted as a result of the strike, providing meals, refreshments and if necessary accommodation as appropriate.

In the past, British Airways has not paid compensation for flights cancelled due to industrial action, describing the event as “extraordinary circumstances” and therefore avoiding payouts under European air passengers’ rights rules.

But last year the Civil Aviation Authority urged passengers disrupted by strikes at Ryanair to claim compensation. Presumably if a BA strike were to go ahead, it would do the same.

What are my rights if I decide to book a different flight?

On the British Airways booking, normal cancellation conditions will continue to apply unless your flight is jeopardised by possible industrial action.

So if you book alternative flights there is little prospect of getting the cash for your original itinerary back. That could be very expensive insurance.

If I lose my flight, will British Airways also refund my hotel and rental car?

No, unless you have booked them as part of a package with BA.

The airline will suggest you try to claim any “consequential losses” through travel insurance.

Would you advise against booking BA for the next few months?

No. Indeed, there is a strong argument for buying flights with British Airways. While the threat of a strike hangs over any airline, passengers are reluctant to book, and therefore fares are lower than they might otherwise be.

History suggests that most flights will go ahead. So I would book with some confidence, but retaining some flexibility with my ground arrangements.