Tens of thousands of British travellers have had their holiday plans thrown into chaos today by British Airways’ cancellation of all Heathrow flights following the unofficial walk-out of more than 1,000 ground staff.
The airline has axed about 550 flights and does not yet know when normal operations will resume. About 100 pilots and cabin crew have been left stranded overseas.
Some Qantas, BMed, Sri Lankan, Finnair and GB Airways’ flights have also been suspended because they share BA’s ground handling staff.
The crisis escalated yesterday afternoon when BA cancelled 120 flights because its baggage handlers started a strike in support of 600 sacked Gate Gourmet workers.
Gate Gourmet is BA’s sole Heathrow food supplier, but it has fallen out with employees and union T&G over its recruitment of 130 seasonal workers.
Yesterday BA passengers with operating flights did not get in-flight meals because of Gate Gourmet’s workforce collapse.
Chief executive Sir Rod Eddington described the situation as “a huge disappointment”.
“We have become embroiled in an issue which is not a dispute with British Airways,” he said.
Gate Gourmet also caters for airlines including Cathay Pacific, Austrian Airlines and Emirates. However, Cathay Pacific and Emirates spokespeople said they’d avoided catering problems by double-loading meals at their hubs in Hong Kong and Dubai respectively.
Virgin Atlantic and BMI have both confirmed they’re picking up bookings from BA passengers who are not prepared to wait until this crisis is over.
ABTA has advised customers due to travel before 6pm today not to go to Heathrow.
Gatwick is operating as normal.
ABTA is advising agents with affected passengers to log on to abtamembers.org/bastrike.htm for the latest information, or contact its members’ information line on 0845 177 ABTA (2282).