THE first-ever strike by British Airways pilots has started, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights, reports the London Guardian.
British Airways' bellyhold cargo operations have suffered a major disruption as a result of the strike with 1,700 passenger flights cancelled so to have BA freight operations, reported London's Air Cargo News.
Members of the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) said they will walk out for 48 hours in a over pay, planning another strike on September 27 if no settlement is reached.
BA said on its website that it had 'no option but to cancel nearly 100 per cent of our flights'.
BA has offered an 11.5 per cent pay rise over three years, which it said would take the pay of some captains to more than GBP200,000 (US$247,368) a year.
The airline said it believed the pay offer was 'fair and generous', and that it if it was good enough for BA cabin crew, ground staff and engineers - whose unions, Unite and the GMB, have both accepted it - it should be good enough for pilots.
Other airlines in the IAG Group, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Level and Vueling, and their trucking networks are not expected to be affected.
'If you have contracted block space agreements or regular flows of business on any of these dates please contact your local IAG Cargo sales teams to discuss alternative options,' IAG Cargo said.
'Our business continues to pursue every avenue to find a solution to avoid industrial action and protect our customers' shipments.'
WORLD SHIPPING
British Airways' bellyhold cargo operations have suffered a major disruption as a result of the strike with 1,700 passenger flights cancelled so to have BA freight operations, reported London's Air Cargo News.
Members of the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) said they will walk out for 48 hours in a over pay, planning another strike on September 27 if no settlement is reached.
BA said on its website that it had 'no option but to cancel nearly 100 per cent of our flights'.
BA has offered an 11.5 per cent pay rise over three years, which it said would take the pay of some captains to more than GBP200,000 (US$247,368) a year.
The airline said it believed the pay offer was 'fair and generous', and that it if it was good enough for BA cabin crew, ground staff and engineers - whose unions, Unite and the GMB, have both accepted it - it should be good enough for pilots.
Other airlines in the IAG Group, Aer Lingus, Iberia, Level and Vueling, and their trucking networks are not expected to be affected.
'If you have contracted block space agreements or regular flows of business on any of these dates please contact your local IAG Cargo sales teams to discuss alternative options,' IAG Cargo said.
'Our business continues to pursue every avenue to find a solution to avoid industrial action and protect our customers' shipments.'
WORLD SHIPPING