British Airways Pilots Strike Threat
Major disruption at UK airports could occur later this month after talks aimed at resolving a potential strike by British Airways pilots broke down.
Officials from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) met with the airline last week in talks held by the conciliation service Acas, in order to try and settle a dispute regarding the creation of a new BA airline.
However, these talks failed to bring a solution and unless agreement is reached there is a strong possibility that BA pilots could strike later this month.
Balpa said: "BA was not prepared to provide the employment security and career development opportunities which are at the heart of the dispute".
BA pilots have already voted in favour of a strike if an agreement could not be reached.
Although the union has not confirmed whether it will take action, or when any potential strike may occur in the first place, UK newspaper reports suggest that a strike could take place over the busy Easter period. The union has to give a week's notice before any strike action takes place.
If a strike is announced, BA have said they will apply to the High Court to prevent the industrial action.
A BA statement said: "If strike dates are issued, we will act to protect our customers by applying for an injunction".
The airline added they "believe the opportunity remains to reach a peaceful resolution".
BA Pilot Dispute Over OpenSkies Airline
The dispute centres on the fact that BA is planning to employ newly-hired pilots to staff its new subsidary airline OpenSkies, rather than use the existing pool of BA pilots, and that - according to Balpa - OpenSkies pilots would be offered "inferior terms" than mainline BA staff.
OpenSkies will launch in June 2008, flying services from Paris and Brussels to New York. The airline has been set up to take advantage of the liberalising Open Skies Treaty, signed by the US and European Union a year ago, which allows any EU-based airline fly from any EU city to any US city, and vice-versa. The Treaty comes into effect at the end of March.
Balpa, which represents 3,000 BA pilots, argue the pay and benefits OpenSkies pilots will receive will be a "Trojan horse" that will allow BA to erode pay and conditions for all the airline's pilots.
BA refutes this accusation, explaining that it is too expensive to hire pilots for OpenSkies that match mainline BA pilots.
Airport International will continue to bring the latest news regarding this story.
BA Chief Executive Wants Open Skies Treaty Expansion
Meanwhile, BA's Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh has spoken out in support of further expansion of the Open Skies Treaty.
As described above, the first stage of the treaty - signed in March 2007 - comes into force in several weeks. Discussions over the further extension of the treaty will begin in May, which would allow EU carriers greater opportunity to open routes to US airports by letting them fly domestic (i.e. internal) flights within the US, and US carriers to do the same in the EU.
Walsh argued in a speech on Friday that "Stage 2" as it is known would "sweep away the outdated restrictions on the ownership and control of airlines". Such deregulation would, in his view, "lead to more industry efficiency and consumer benefits".
Walsh's claims follow recent similarly supportive comments made by Virgin Atlantic's boss, Sir Richard Branson, who also wants the next stage of Open Skies approved.
Source - Airport International's Aviation Correspondent
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