BA CEO thanks customers for patience during strike
British Airways has launched a press campaign thanking customers for their patience with the brand during strike action.
BA cabin crew walked out for three days from 20 March.
In an open letter to the public in today’s national press, Willie Walsh, BA chief executive, apologises to customers whose journeys were disrupted by strike action taken by BA cabin crew.
In it, he thanks customers for showing “patience and support” by flying with the airline during the industrial action.
He outlines that BA flew 80% of customers during the strike action and claims the airline rebooked “most of the rest” of passengers onto flights on other dates or with other carriers.
Walsh also acknowledges the “fantastic efforts of dedicated BA staff” to keep the airline flying and thanks cabin crew that ignored the strike.
He says “Unite have failed to ground BA. We have put a fair and sensible offer to the union and I hope it will now allow its members to vote on it.”
The airline has taken a proactive approach to communicate with the public during the strike action and Walsh has made several public addresses on YouTube.
Members of the Unite union planned to take seven days of strike action this month following the break down of talks with management over changes to pay and working conditions.
Four further days of industrial action are due to take place from 27 March.
