News
BA pilot dispute referred for conciliation
21 February 2008
A dispute between British Airways and its pilots has been referred to an independent third party for conciliation.
An earlier ballot carried out among members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) concluded with 86% of members voting for industrial action.
The dispute relates to BA OpenSkies, the airline's new transatlantic subsidiary, and reported plans to staff the airline with crews on inferior terms to those of its existing employees.
Following the ballot, representatives of BA and Balpa gathered at what was described as a 'positive meeting' near the airline's headquarters at Heathrow airport.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said: 'We welcome the progress made today and are confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation which will protect our customers from the possibility of disruption.'
Jim McAuslan, Balpa's general secretary, said that the result of the ballot underlined the strength of feeling among members regarding the potential implications of the launch of OpenSkies.
He added: 'We have no quarrel with the travelling public and have always maintained that these issues could be resolved through negotiation rather than confrontation.'
Click here to plan and book flights, hotels, city breaks, rental cars and holidays with Opodo.
An earlier ballot carried out among members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) concluded with 86% of members voting for industrial action.
The dispute relates to BA OpenSkies, the airline's new transatlantic subsidiary, and reported plans to staff the airline with crews on inferior terms to those of its existing employees.
Following the ballot, representatives of BA and Balpa gathered at what was described as a 'positive meeting' near the airline's headquarters at Heathrow airport.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said: 'We welcome the progress made today and are confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation which will protect our customers from the possibility of disruption.'
Jim McAuslan, Balpa's general secretary, said that the result of the ballot underlined the strength of feeling among members regarding the potential implications of the launch of OpenSkies.
He added: 'We have no quarrel with the travelling public and have always maintained that these issues could be resolved through negotiation rather than confrontation.'
Click here to plan and book flights, hotels, city breaks, rental cars and holidays with Opodo.
 |  |
Related stories
05 September 2008
- Air France trialling mobile boarding passes >
04 September 2008
- BA opens business class check-in at T5 >
02 September 2008
- First Qantas A380 heads to Toulouse >
27 August 2008
- Virgin Atlantic to continue showing student films >
- Swiss cooks up new menu for premium passengers >
26 August 2008
- Business class flights boost Virgin Atlantic figures >
- Air France trialling mobile boarding passes >
04 September 2008
- BA opens business class check-in at T5 >
02 September 2008
- First Qantas A380 heads to Toulouse >
27 August 2008
- Virgin Atlantic to continue showing student films >
- Swiss cooks up new menu for premium passengers >
26 August 2008
- Business class flights boost Virgin Atlantic figures >
