Retailers slam BA

AGENTS have hit out at British Airways for keeping them in the dark over its potential strike contingency plans.

The trade has been left fielding calls from worried customers without any guidance from the flag carrier as to what advice to give.

Smaller agents and operators are particularly angry as many no longer have account managers at the airline to contact.

At the time of going to press, talks were ongoing to avert strike action but both the GMB and T&G unions have indicated if strikes do proceed they will take place over the August bank holiday, hitting leisure passengers.

"It’s a bit embarrassing,” said Tana Travel managing director Neil Basnett. "I’ve been having to tell customers to watch the news on television to get the latest because we’ve had nothing from the airline apart from one letter.

"We’re meant to be the travel professionals and we’re having to tell clients to watch the news.”

Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichou was forced to phone the BA press office to try to find out what was going on.

"BA has got to sort out its communications because at the moment it’s just not happening,” he said. "There are a lot of agents who need information because clients keep on calling.”

Cowgate-based Sam Smith Business Travel owner Sam Smith attacked the airline for not sorting out the issue earlier.

"It’s had since January to sort this out and it comes to one of the busiest weekends of the year. It’s inept.”

However, other agents sympathised with the airline and criticised the unions for targeting the bank holiday weekend.

Peregrination MD Geoff Dykes claimed BA was right to not create panic by sending out too many messages.

"It’s a bit cynical of the unions to target that weekend,” he said.

The airline has indicated it will try to operate a skeletal network if strikes go ahead, with short-haul flights likely to be cut first. A spokeswoman said: "Until we know if industrial action will take place, in what form and when, it is not possible to finalise our contingency plans.”

Operators have predicted disaster if strikes go ahead as many alternative carriers are already full. "It will be horrendous,” said Kuoni aviation head Mark Robson.

Estimates of how much a 24-hour strike would cost BA range from £10 million to £35 million.