Is this the best Unite could come up with for today?
How an earth would passengers be able to board a flight if there were no crew on board to man the doors?
BA: United we stand
15:30, 27 March 2010 - Day one of second strike
So far approximate figures show:
Long Haul Heathrow
- thought to be operating at 30% below capacity
- 60 flights planned but 22 of these are cargo only including flights to New York, Johanesburg and Hong Kong
- 6 flights were loaded with passengers then unloaded - no crew - and told to rebook
- Zone E, Terminal 5 now congested; passenger barriers brought out for first time in the dispute to manage crowds;
- tannoy announcements being made by company blaming Unite and cabin crew for the problems
- most flights flying well under capacity
- first flight to Miami, a key weekend route, cancelled
- in-bound flights now being cancelled, including LA flight
Eurofleet Heathrow
- again many grounded as BA relying on 8 other operators to carry passengers
- first 5 flights this morning - delayed because of no crew
Flights now flying with reduced crew. Heavy reliance on 700 pilots as crew.
Gatwick
- all long haul gone one crew member down
- by 9am, running out of 'volunteer' crew
Unite also announces it is seeking legal advice on legality of BA's move to deny pay to strike breakers beyond strike dates and its plans to define crew who are sick as strikers, so withdrawing their travel assistance too.