British Airways grounds ‘nearly 100%’ of its daily flights

On Sunday 8 September British Airways (BA) announced that it would ground ‘nearly 100%’ of its daily flights on Monday and Tuesday due to a two-day strike carried out by the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa). Today, Tuesday 10 September, pilots are abandoning their cockpits for the second consecutive day because of a labour dispute concerning pay.

However, domestic flights in South Africa will not be affected by the second day of the BA pilot strikes in the UK.

Image: British Airways

The strike action dramatically affects long-haul international flights and up to 850 of British Airways’ daily flights, but won’t impact domestic flights in South Africa operated by Comair, the airline franchise under British Airways which services Kulula Airlines’ domestic flight routes.

Also read: Thousands stranded by typhoon in Japan

The pilots’ strike mainly affects London’s Heathrow Airport, the flagship British carrier’s hub, and about 195,000 travellers, according to Associated Press.

The union is reportedly planning another strike later this month on 27 September.

Here’s what’s circulating on social media:

Heathrow terminal 5 is a ghost town with the BA pilot strike, only ten flights expected all day. Many retail stores are closed. What an absolute pleasure to breeze through the airport, so peaceful. pic.twitter.com/mkd3pJ7Lwa

— Sean Joffe (@seanjoffe) September 9, 2019

SCORES of passengers travelling to and from Bahrain to London have had to alter their travel arrangements after British Airways (BA) cancelled almost all its flights for yesterday and today following a pilots’ strike.#Bahrain

Read more: pic.twitter.com/pa2JaC2bAQ

— Gulf Daily News (@GDNonline) September 10, 2019

The BA pilot strike is very interesting and a very fundamental trade union demand. We, the workers, by our skill and diligence make your, IAG’s, profits. So we want a share of them. Strange to see it in 21st century when TU rights and demands are not so fundamental.

— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) September 9, 2019

BA pilots’ strike. Here at Heathrow, there are no queues to take off or land. More than half the airport’s flights are cancelled.
You can fly anywhere you like from BA’s home, Terminal 5, as long as it’s Cairo, Madrid or Tokyo.
Only Gatwick departure: JFK. https://t.co/Vbg2wPoJFP

— Simon Calder (@SimonCalder) September 9, 2019

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