Thursday 27 May 2010

Strike Enters 4th Day

Talks between Unite and BA are expected to resume tomorrow as the strike will enter its fifth and final day of the first in the series of strikes being carried out over pay and conditions. Talks had lasted for over 6 hours yesterday with an agreement still to be reached.

Heathrow saw 241 flights cancelled out of 678 for Thursday due to the industrial action, a figure which BA say is in keeping with their pledge to keep 70% of their passengers in the air. They also aim to increase that figure for the next planned strike which is due to start Sunday.

Willie Walsh told of his frustration at reaching an agreement with the Unite leaders only for it to be rejected by Bassa. Which directly represents the BA cabin crew, Mr Walsh also stated if the debate can’t be solved before the next planned strike his company would be seeking a full hearing to once again challenge the legality of the strikes. Which has already been overturned before

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Protest At Manchester airport


A protest took place at Manchester airport yesterday where angry protestors from the Plane Stupid group gained access to a non public area and chained themselves to the undercarriage of an aircraft.

The dispute is over plans by Manchester airport to expand its freight services and the impact it may cause to the environment due to additional emissions, reports from Manchester airport indicated that six people were involved in the fracas, which stopped planes from landing or taking off for 20 minutes.

Access to the aircraft was gained after the group cut a hole through the security fence that surrounds the airport, but the airport stated that disruptions were minimal and was soon operating at full pace once the intruders had been removed by the police.

They also protested at the airports freight center simultaneously with the aircraft chaining, there argument is that Manchester airport currently sees 170,000 tonnes of freight each year pass through its terminal that figure is set to rocket to 250,000 tonnes after the expansion.

Annie McLaughlin a Plane Stupid spokesmen said the impact to the environment would be a disaster

Monday 24 May 2010

BA Strikes Begin

The Union Unite has started its first 5 day walkout on BA today as last ditch attempts to avert the strikes failed yesterday. Passengers have had thousands of flights cancelled in and out of Heathrow as the argument over pay and conditions continues to harm BA’s reputation and future.

The last stumbling block remains the travel perks for BA cabin crew which were removed as punishment for the first wave of strikes, although BA claim they would be re-instated after Unite had agreed to the whole of BA’s offer.

But talks were halted on Saturday night as the location of the talks was gate-crashed by left wing protesters, the following day another location was set up in secret but BA are accusing Unite of failing to accept their offer of more negotiations.

BA have accused Tony Woodley of carry out his negotiations through the media claiming they had agreed to re-instate travel perks only for Woodley to start returning to other done deals of the agreement and trying to alter them again.

Gatwick and London City should be unaffected by the strike but Heathrow is being seriously hampered with 40% of long haul and 50% of short haul being affected, passengers are advised to visit the BA website for information on there flights

Thursday 20 May 2010

Unite Wins Appeal


Unite has won its appeal to overturn the ruling that forced its members to abort the first of the planned strikes that should have started last Tuesday. The strikes are now officially back on, with next Monday looking the likely start date for the first five day walk-out, unless of course an agreement is reached.

The reaction to the successful appeal was the chanting of “we are the champions” by Unite members waiting outside the courtroom, but Derek Simpson a Unite official stated it was not a day for triumph as they shouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. He also called for BA to go the extra mile in reaching an agreement.

However defiant a BA stated, that Unite strikes had twice failed and would fail again, claiming thousands of Unite members would ignore the strikes and come to work regardless and help BA to fly 70% of its customers.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Coalition Says No To 3rd Runway At Heathrow


The newly formed government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has announced that the 3rd runway at Heathrow will not be going ahead. Whilst the outgoing Prime Minister Gordon brown was a strong supporter of the project it seems David Cameron and Nick Clegg don’t share his views.

Not content with putting the brakes on Heathrow the new coalition are extending this stance to the other major London airports, newly owned Gatwick and another BAA airport Stansted will not be allowed to add additional runways in the near future.

This will come as a major blow to BAA who have been pushing for the new runway ever since the plans were drawn up 7 years ago, added to the fact that Stansted will not be allowed to extend will be a big disappointment, especially after they had the backing of the previous Prime Minister. The new Government is thought to be in favour of giving the rail network an overhaul.

But BAA argue that by denying Heathrow the opportunity to expand it will fall behind other European airports. The news will be strongly greeted by environmental activists and home owners within the proposed 3rd runways’ flightpath.

Tuesday 18 May 2010

BA Wins High Court Battle


BA yesterday won a high court ruling, forcing its cabin crew to abort its plans for the first of the planned four, five day walkouts, once again the legibility of the ballot was in question, with the strikes being called off due to a technicality.

The technicality in question was the Union’s failure to inform its members that there were 11 spoilt ballot papers. A ruling that didn’t sit well with Unite leader Tony Woodley, who said it was a disgrace and it questions if you have the right to strike in this country which was a fundamental human right.

Though Unite have set the ball rolling in an attempt to appeal the ruling, three judges are hearing their argument and if successful they can appeal and have the ruling overturned. Failing that the Union has said it will carry out another ballot on industrial action.

BA admit they have merely postponed the strikes as the dispute causing them has still not been settled. But Willie Walsh has called for Unite to take time and reflect on the situation in the hope of no more strike action.

The airline is still being hampered today despite the court win as it came to late in the day after it had cancelled flights already, Heathrow being the hardest hit airport.

It is thought the original dispute has now been settled but travel perks that were removed by Willie Walsh for striking workers have not been returned and this is now the main sticking point.

Monday 17 May 2010

More Ash Cloud Chaos

The Uk returned to the ash cloud mayhem that it saw last month as both Heathrow and Gatwick were forced to close last night, as the latest ash cloud again caused massive disruptions to the travel industry.

The majority of the UK Northern airports were closed along with Scottish airports as the airlines fears were confirmed when the decision to close Gatwick and Heathrow was made. Though the airports have now re-opened there are more delays expected today.

Richard Branson the CEO of Virgin Airways has blasted the closures and insisted there was no evidence that jet engines would be compromised in the ash clouds as all test flights reported no problems. He also added that the over-reaction was beyond a joke, comments you can understand what with the massive losses airlines are suffering.

BA is expected to announce a £600million annual loss this year and with the latest wave of cabin crew strikes set for tommorow you can understand the frustration of the airlines, talks are being held today between the union Unite and BA in an attempt to avert more strike action

Thursday 13 May 2010

BA To Defy Strikes

British Airways are planning to run at least half of its flights from Heathrow airport during the first of the four, five day walkouts by cabin crew, which starts next Tuesday. Amazingly none of the flights at Gatwick and London city airport will be affected according to BA.

The airline says that 60% of its long haul and 50% of its short haul flights will operate as normal as they dig in deep over the pay and conditions row with union Unite. The four five day strikes will have one day between each strike but as the damage will already be done it is basically a 20 day strike.

BA contingency plans are to hire 8 aircraft from other rival airlines along with pilots and crew, whilst its short haul flights will be catered for by it’s own staff. While it has also made arrangements with 50 other carriers to re-book its passengers onto alternative flights if need be.

BA CEO Willie Walsh has called for the Union to call off the strikes and think of the job security of its members. Both parties have called for more talks but have yet to materialise.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Uk Firms announce £165 million ash cloud costs


Thomsons Holidays and Easyjet have released the expected costs so far from the Icelandic volcano eruptions that is still wreaking havoc accross Europe. The owner of Thomson's TUI said the ash cloud had cost £90 million up to date due to 175,000 holiday cancellations.

Easyjet stated there bill was currently at £75 million but both firms were confident that they would recover a large part of the money from EU governments. An Easyjet cheif blamed the authorities for not having contingency plans in place.

Yesterday a Thomsons plane that left Exter airport was bound for Maderia but after a three hour flight the ash cloud had moved over Maderia forcing the plane to return to Exeter resulting in a 6 hour flight round trip.

Further disruptions are expected today due to the ash cloud at Spain, Portugal, France and the Canary Islands.

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Fresh BA Strike Imminent


Unite have announced that it will carry out four separate 5 day strikes which are in the same time period as a UK bank holiday weekend, school half term and the start of the world cup, the first planned strike will take place on 18th May-22nd May with more strikes planned for 24th May, 30th May and the 5th June.

British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has condemned the strikes but insists Gatwick and London city airport will operate as normal with Heathrow will still run a substantial number of flights.

Unite officials have stated the strikes can still be averted if BA return to the negotiating table with meaningingful intent, however BA have already set about putting contingency plans in place for the upcoming strikes including leasing planes and putting passengers on rival airlines.

As the pay and conditions dispute rumbles on it is thought the main sticking point now is cabin crew workers want their travel perks re-instating after they were removed by BA as punishment over the first two stikes which cost BA £45 million.

At a cost of around £7 million a day a 20 day strike would be an enormous cost for BA to absorb added with the current ash cloud problems you wonder if the cabin crew workers would have jobs to come back to.

Friday 7 May 2010

Ba Cabin Crew Reject New Offer

The long running feud between BA and Union Unite over pay and conditions which has already resulted in two strikes by British Airways cabin crew workers looks set to continue as the latest ballot carried out by Unite has returned an overwhelming rejection of BA’s latest pay offer.

Cabin crew workers who took part in the previous two strikes have had their travel privileges from BA revoked yet there was still a massive 81% majority vote in favour the pay rejection which was strongly advised by the Union.

British Airways hit back by saying the pay offer was very fair and that it was disappointed with the outcome. British Airways must now face the very real threat of more cabin crew worker strikes which could cost £7 million a day, with mention of a 20 day strike being on the cards.

Thursday 6 May 2010

Airports Re-Opened

All Uk airspace was re-opened this morning as the wind changed direction and took the fresh ash cloud away from the UK enabling closed Irish airports such as Belfast, Dublin and Derry and Scottish airports Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick to open its doors once more.

Uk airports such as Leeds Bradford and Manchester were on standby to close but thankfully the change of direction in the wind eased fears and the go ahead was given to open closed airspace.

The National Air Traffic Services (NATS) stated the no-fly zone imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority was lifted after the volcanic ash cloud moved west overnight and has now cleared UK airspace, it will continue to work closely with the CAA and the MET Office to track future safety concerns.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Northen Ireland And Scottish Airports Closed

As reported yesterday fears over the volcanic ash cloud hovering over UK airspace have been confirmed as this morning Northern Ireland and airports in parts of Scotland including Glasgow closed in what is a replica of the beginning of the previous six day airspace closure.

Glasgow, Prestwick and Derry are expected to be closed most of the day and although Edinburgh is still currently operating it is expected to close in the afternoon along with Belfast airport.

The airports are doing as much as they possibly can and busses are transporting passengers from Glasgow airport across to Edinburgh and some to Manchester airport. The CAA has advised passengers to contact their airlines before travelling to see if there is a contingency plan in place.

Yesterday Irish airports were closed as the level of ash in the air increased but were later re-opened but as the ash cloud rolled in overnight the decision was made to close them again along with some Scottish airports.

Andrew Haines CEO of CAA said the chance of a UK airport closure was slim as the ash would disperse throughout the day as the wind changes direction and push the cloud away from the UK

Tuesday 4 May 2010

New Ash Cloud Worry

Uk airports were panicking last night as a fresh volcanic ash plume was heading towards Britain with the travel industry still reeling from last month’s six day closure on UK airspace which cost in excess of £2billion and left thousands of Brits stranded abroad 35000 of which are still believed to be stranded.

Irish airports began grounding flights and its airports will remain shut until 1pm today, with passengers being advised to contact their airlines, Ryanair had grounded all flights in and out of Ireland from 6am-2pm . Aer Lingus also confirmed all its flights due in and out of Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Belfast airports had been cancelled till 1pm.

Thankfully the airspace has now been opened and flights are once again arriving and departing at the Irish airports after tests were carried out and the air quality was deemed safe by officials. UK airports have been unaffected by the recent events.