Easter breaks threatened as BA pilots vote for strike

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Their union has earmarked three days of strikes but is holding off announcing dates.

Travel over Easter, one of the busiest times of the year, and BA's move to Terminal 5 next month are under threat.

Heathrow, used by 62,000 BA passengers a day, and Gatwick, by 15,000, would be among the worst affected airports.

The ballot of 3,000 pilots resulted in 86 per cent in favour of strikes, after 90 per cent of the pilots voted. The size of the majority shocked BA, the UK's largest carrier, which called on Balpa, the pilots union, to meet at the conciliation service Acas.

Any walkouts would be the first by BA pilots for 30 years. The dispute is over BA plans to create an airline with a separate group of pilots who will fly between New York and Paris or Brussels. Balpa fears this will lead to a lowering of working conditions that will spread to the main airline.

A union spokesman said: "BA plans to keep their wages low even when OpenSkies becomes profitable."

Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "We have seen it happening around the world. BA pilots are determined not to let the same thing happen to them and their families."

BA said it was disappointed with the ballot result, adding: " We have guaranteed to Balpa that OpenSkies does not represent a threat to the terms and conditions of BA pilots."