Disruption to BA flights will drag on after strike

The second strike by British Airways cabin crew, which begins this morning, is set to have a serious impact on the airline's operations even after industrial action ends on Tuesday.

Research by The Independent shows that at least 20 long-haul, wide-bodied flights to Heathrow on Wednesday have been cancelled, with the aircraft flown empty back to BA's London base.

The airline plans to run 55 per cent of its short-haul flights to and from Heathrow, and 70 per cent of the long-haul operation, during the four-day strike called by the cabin crew union, Unite.

Willie Walsh, the BA chief executive, said yesterday that at least three-quarters of passengers would travel as booked. But when outbound long-haul flights are cancelled, a corresponding inbound flight several days later cannot operate because there are no cabin crew in position. Services due to leave Hong Kong, Johannesburg and Lagos have been axed on March 31, after the strike ends.

The aircraft that would normally operate cancelled long-haul services will be flown back empty, unless more crew than expected report for duty and the flights can be re-opened for sale. The environmental harm caused by these "positioning" flights will add to the reputational damage caused by the bitter dispute over staffing levels and working practices.

Nearly 40 short-haul flights were dropped yesterday amid contingency plans for the second strike. The financial damage from the stoppage is likely to be less than the £7m a day last time because BA plans a full service from its base at Gatwick. Last weekend, very few cabin crew at the Sussex airport took part in industrial action.

Yesterday, the divide between management and union widened, over the issue of travel concessions. Striking crew have received emails telling them their entitlement to free or heavily discounted flights has been permanently withdrawn. Before the strike, Mr Walsh warned: "When I said we will withdraw staff travel privileges for those who do strike, I meant it."

Last night, the joint leaders of Unite, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson, told BA staff that "the withdrawal of travel concessions from crew who have been on strike represents unacceptable anti-union bullying". Of the 60,000 passengers BA is unable to carry either on its own aircraft or on planes leased from rivals, 43,000 have been transferred to other airlines.

Talks between unions and Network Rail about a four-day rail strike from April 6-9 will continue on Monday.

- INDEPENDENT