Proactive Investors - British Airways is set to cancel hundreds of flights over the Easter holiday period as strikes by security staff look to burden Britain’s busiest airport.
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (LON:ICAG) owned BA will axe over 300 flights as a result of the strike action by 1,400 Heathrow security staff from terminal five, taking place between Friday, 31 March and Sunday, 9 April.
Heathrow told BA to reduce its flight schedule by 5% due to the walkouts, prompting it to cancel around 32 flights a day.
“Following Heathrow’s requirement for us to reduce the number of passengers travelling during the period of its employees’ proposed strike action, we’ve regrettably had to make a small number of adjustments to our schedule,” it said in a statement.
Pay negotiations, aimed at preventing the strikes, fell through last week, with Heathrow saying it had offered a 10% pay rise but Unite union responded it wasn’t enough.
"We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers," Heathrow said, adding 1,000 additional staff would be sent to help on strike days.
BA holds over 50% of Heathrow’s slots, meaning it is particularly exposed to issues at the airport.
Earlier in March, the Civil Aviation Authority told Heathrow to up its temporary price cap used to levy airlines passing through the airport, again, dealing a blow to BA.