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British Airways’ cabin crew began a five-day strike at midnight, the latest walkout in a 16-month dispute over staffing levels, pay and travel perks. With no resolution in sight, Europe’s third-biggest carrier has already grounded flights on 17 days since March 20, 14 more than during the last stoppage by flight attendants in 1997.
The most recent talks with the Unite union failed on June 1 and further negotiations may be stalled by Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh’s trip to Germany to attend the annual gathering of the International Air Transportation Association.
“Both sides are already quite entrenched and with Walsh in Berlin in coming days, prospects for any resumption of talks seem very thin,” said Frank Skodzik, an analyst at Commerzbank AG in Frankfurt with an “add” rating on British Airways stock.
Passenger traffic at British Airways tumbled almost 12 percent last month after the walkout forced it to ground flights and rebook passengers with rivals. The strikes have so far cost the carrier about 126 million pounds ($183 million), including today’s stoppage, based on its own estimates.
While British Airways remains in touch with the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, the UK.’s state-funded mediator, no fresh discussions have been arranged, spokesman Richard Goodfellow said yesterday by telephone. There is “no news on talks,” according to Unite spokeswoman Pauline Doyle.
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