Strike called off against British Airways

The airline and union reach an agreement.

By Janet Stobart, Times Staff Writer
12:00 AM PST, December 31, 2006

The British Airways cabin-staff strike planned for Tuesday and Wednesday, which would have grounded most of the airline's flights from London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, has been called off.

British Airways announced it would reinstate all flights, but it advised passengers to call the airline or their travel agent or consult www.ba.com to confirm their flight details before leaving for the airport.

The airline's management reached an agreement Monday with officials of the Transport and General Workers Union on pay and sick-leave disputes.

"Unfortunately, the decision [to call off the strike] has come too late to prevent disruption to the travel plans of tens of thousands of our customers" on Tuesday and Wednesday, British Airways' Chief Executive Willie Walsh said in a statement.

Although the airline will attempt to resume full, normal service, passengers may have to travel with reduced in-flight catering. "Unfortunately, due to the late reinstatement of flights, we will be unable to provide full catering on some of our flights from London Heathrow on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and Wednesday, Jan. 31," the BA website says.

Strikes announced for next month have also been called off.