British Airways flying empty planes as strike continues

With the cabin crew strike showing no signs of abating, British Airways has been forced into flying empty airplanes to global destinations, according to a source.

The Unite union, which represents the striking cabin crew members, has urged board members of British Airways to take responsibility into their own hands, claiming that they have the opportunity to put an end to the dispute which has crippled passenger traffic. The union comments came after British Airways reinstated over 20 routes across Asia, Europe and the UK. The airline argues that contingency plans to keep craft airborne were adequately countering the disruptions, with additional staff from competitor airlines being brought in.

Unite has refuted the confidence claims of the airline as political spin, stating that a minimum of 37 scheduled flights on Sunday flew with no passengers aboard. The union reasoned that these flights were to allow aircraft to attend to destinations that had inbound UK flights scheduled over coming days.

The picket lines have been drawn at the Bedfont Football Club, near the airline’s home at London Heathrow, where a party atmosphere has been created. Unite claims that up to 80 per cent of its member are visiting the lines. Buses transporting striking workers to the football ground were filled with staff wearing masks of British Airways head Willie Walsh, chanting for his removal.

British Airways has concurred that some flights may be empty, but that they dispute the figures proposed by Unite, saying that many were cargo flights which generate valuable income.

According to Unite, only 300 of the 2,200 cabin crew staff had shown up for work over the weekend.