British Airways says flights to operate next week despite strike

[LONDON] British Airways said on Friday that its customers would be able to fly to their destinations on Jan 10 and 11 despite strikes planned by some of its cabin crew.

Crew who serve as part of British Airways' 'mixed fleet' - a unit which have poorer terms and conditions than some longer-serving staff and are represented by the Unite union - plan to hold a 48-hour strike next Tuesday and Wednesday after rejecting a pay offer from BA.

But BA, which along with Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling is part of International Airlines Group, said most of its flights would operate as normal on those days, with some time changes for certain flights departing from London's Heathrow airport.

BA has said that its 'mixed fleet' Unite cabin crew represent 15 per cent of its cabin crew. The airline urged Unite to abandon its strike plan.

"We continue to be available for further dialogue with Unite," BA said in a statement.

REUTERS