BA staff in Christmas strike threat
Updated on 02 November 2009
British Airways staff could go on strike at Christmas, union leaders warn, unless the company cancels plans to cut jobs, pay and conditions. John Sparks reports.
Thousands of cabin crew travelled from around the world for a mass meeting today to express their anger - saying they were determined to stop the changes being imposed.
But BA, which lost more than £400m last year, said the cutbacks were essential if it was to survive.
BA's employment costs look increasingly out of line with rivals. Pilots at EasyJet cost the airline £71,000 a year. At Virgin it is just over £89,000. But BA spends £107,000 on pilots.
For cabin drew the difference is even larger. EasyJet spends £20,000 per head on staff. Virgin spends just £14,000. But BA cabin crew cost the airline more than double that: nearly £30,000.
