Recent problems with the new T5 Terminal at Heathrow have resulted in more problems for BA when will they recover their No1 position.

British Airways union announces strike dates

The union representing British Airways cabin crew has said its members will go on strike for three days from 20 March and for four days from 27 March.

frankly, i don't care how much WW pays himself ..... to my mind, BA staff are significantly overpaid relative to the rest of the industry, and while i too would squawk loudly if my pay was cut, there is the old saying that if you don't like it, then vote with your feet ...... going on strike doesn't count!

Cynicyou are one funny git!

Interesting scenario taking place at BA.Gordon Brown has condemned the strikethe strike is being led by the union that bankrolls LabourBA future was already uncertain after its recant huge losesand Willie Walsh is as confident as a man holding a Royal Flush while losing 40% passengers to other Airlinessomething stinksmethinks?could Brown have met Willy secretly in the toiletand told him those Jumbos are too big to fail?Unite has offered to suspend the strikes due to begin on Saturday if BA resubmits a peace offerWilly has declined to reinstate the offerwhy?

because, quite rightly, ww sees the unions as a menace to putting the airline on a profitable footing .... ww's gamble is that BA will recoup any passenger losses once this union has been kicked hard enough in the balls and the staff accept a realistic pay structure.

Cynicthat is a massive gambleand one that he will lose imono-frills airlines are gaining/tempting passengersthey are now going to be given themUnite has offered to suspend the strikes on BAs original termsbasically he can have a 100% of his planes in the airwithout giving an inch of his original offerUnion negotiations can be ongoingthey might even go away quietly?he was offered the chance and refused it!!!

I am not backing the unionbut as a leaderwould it not have been a good idea for WW to forgo his 6% wage increaseand not except the 1.1 million in deferred share bonusesrespected leaders lead!!!.I can see Colonel H on his way to capture Goose Greentelling his regimentwe have got to charge this Argentine-occupied settlementdamn risky business this for an Old Etonian like myselfso I will go back to the Hotel for a Jacuzzirest of you good men carry onRule Britannia and all that
let me know before we greet the Governormust look the parttoddle pip..
Personally I would saya superior man is modest in his speechbut exceeds in his actions.I think Willy has got it the wrong way roundmore of a Wonker?

we shall see ..... clearly the market agrees with his stance

wow,,,nice rise 245

BA Concludes Union Talks On Defined Benefit Pension Schemes
LONDON (Dow Jones)

British Airways PLC (BAY.LN) Tuesday concluded talks with its joint trade unions on the future benefits of its defined pension schemes, marking a step toward tackling its GBP3.7 billion pension deficit before needing to present a recovery plan to the regulator by June 30.

The U.K. airline said its main proposal will see New Airways Pension Scheme members opting to pay an extra 4.5% to maintain their existing pension benefits, adding that there will be a mechanism in place to offset the impact of contributions. Alternatively, members can receive lower future benefits.

The joint trade unions are British Airline Pilots' Association, GMB and Unite.

"This is an important step forward in the process of addressing the pension deficits which the trade unions will be recommending to their members," BA said. "The new benefit structure will be proposed to the trustees and form part of the negotiations toward a recovery plan that is expected to be presented to the pensions regulator by June 30."

It said the proposals are intended to avoid the closure of the pension schemes and maintain BA's contributions at GBP330 million a year.

I notice the share price started to spike an hour before the RNS.

i dithered and didn't this morning .... never mind

BA resuming normal flights service after strike

British Airways is trying to resume normal services following the end of a three-day strike by cabin crew.

The airline says it has reinstated a number of flights over the next four days that were previously cancelled.

BA is reviewing its schedule for a strike between 27 and 30 March which is again about pay and condition changes.

No further talks to resolve the dispute are planned ahead of the next walkout, but unions have challenged BA chief Willie Walsh to return to negotiations.

the unions will be well stuffed at the end of the day - and a damned good job too!
shame i sold out of these at about 200, but you can't hold/win 'em all

Broker note today from Olivetree Securities:
"BA announced that the estimated impact from the strike is 7m a day but earnings expectations to 31st March 2010 will remain unchanged. This is due to a more limited disruption (over the 1st 2 days, the airline operated 78% of its longhaul flights and 50% of its shorthaul flights). Also, having analyzed the stoxx 600, we founds BAY in the top 10 of biggest decrease in weekly short base last week. Its short base has come down by 0.6% last week. It still has 31.75% of shares outstanding on loan and above 95% of the lending pool is actually being borrowed. There are c44days to cover.
COMMENT Guidance being unchanged despite the strike is encouraging. We continue to believe that BAY has a high risk of short squeeze as the positive catalysts unfold (merger with Iberia, JV with AA, pension deficit agreement, traffic pick up and end of strike). We stay long the stock."

Surprised no-one has commented - 2nd day of no UK-flights, due to the ash in the upper atmosphere ( from Iceland's volcano - huh!).
What will this do to BAY's position, presumably Airport Taxes will be saved, but then the passengers will go by rail, if they can. Some believe this ash may hang about for some while, maybe over 1-year, should the seismics get worse.

Add today's news that US-Goldman Sachs (Wall Street), is to be prosecuted for fraud (DYOR). . . . . . . . and we are staring at major changes in the City of London . . . . plus the Election (sush!_).

....Crikey....what next?

what it means is that those living near a flight path will get a good nights sleep for a change!

that has been so for the last few days and will continue until at least monday

Short the crap out of RYA (Ryanair) imo ...

All of them ....