British Airways Strike Threatens Christmas Travel Plans

British Airways staff have voted to go on strike from December 22 to January 2 over the airline's restructuring plans, affecting thousands of international travellers, particularly those planning to visit Britain during the Christmas holiday season. The strike will impact flights between Australia and Britain, as well as globally, with the airline's chief executive calling the action "completely unjustified" and a "huge overreaction". The strike is timed to hit the airline during its busiest travel period, with significant economic implications for tourists and the airline industry.

Key Takeaways:

• The strike will affect 12 days of flights from December 22 to January 2, impacting thousands of international travellers, particularly between Australia and Britain.
• British Airways staff voted to strike over the airline's restructuring plans, which involve 1200 job cuts, with the airline's chief executive describing the action as "completely unjustified" and a "huge overreaction".
• The Christmas holiday season is the busiest travel time of the year between Britain and Australia, with 100,800 British travellers visiting Australia in December and 59,200 arriving in January.
• British tourists typically stay between 20 to 36 nights in Australia, spending just over $3000 per head, as per official figures.
• Qantas, British Airways' codeshare partner, has sufficient capacity to accommodate Qantas-ticketed passengers booked on BA codeshare flights between Australia and the UK, but this may not extend to all British Airways flights.
• Over 4000 passengers were stranded at Melbourne Airport after a computer breakdown forced the cancellation of 47 Virgin Blue flights and delayed dozens more.

Statistics:

• 12 days: duration of the strike from December 22 to January 2
• 1200: number of job cuts involved in British Airways' restructuring plans
• 100,800: number of British travellers who visited Australia in December, 59,200: number who arrived in January
• $3000: average spending per British tourist in Australia
• 4000: number of passengers stranded at Melbourne Airport after a computer breakdown
• 47: number of Virgin Blue flights cancelled due to a computer breakdown
• 20-36: range of nights typically spent by British tourists in Australia
• 2: number of flights British Airways operates daily to Britain from Sydney with its own crew and planes

Sources:

• British Airways spokesman
• Willie Walsh, British Airways CEO
• David Epstein, Qantas Head of Corporate Affairs
• Official travel statistics
• Virgin Blue statement