British Airways cancels flights from Heathrow

British Airways today announced all flights from London Heathrow and most from Gatwick will be grounded on Tuesday and Wednesday on account of a strike called by the Transport and General Workers' Union, the carrier's cabin crew union.

British Airways operates 44 flights every week to London from cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Kolkata.

British Airways customers can claim a full refund if their flight is canceled or rebook for a later date or with another airline, the carrier said.

The cabin crew branch of the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) has also notified British Airways that it plans to take further action on February 5,6 and 7 and February 12,13, and 14.

Europe's third largest airline and its workers failed to agree on pay and sick leave. Last year the airline had reduced paid sick leave and the number of flight attendants on planes as part of an effort to save $98 million by 2008.

"The airline remains committed to pursuit of a negotiated settlement before next Tuesday but wants customers to have early warning of its flying schedule to allow sufficient time for alternative travel arrangements to be made," said a British Airline executive.

Meanwhile, Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, after more than 24 hours of intense discussions with the main union representing cabin crew, said he was "bitterly disappointed" that it had not accepted a management pay offer.

"It (the union) has chosen instead to confirm a 48-hour stoppage on Tuesday-Wednesday that will wreck the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of customers," he said.

The union, which represents about 11,000 of the airline's 14,000 cabin crew, says it has reduced its strike plans for next week from three days to two as a goodwill gesture.

A notice on the British Airways website says the airline is committed to finding a negotiated settlement before next Tuesday, but wanted to give advance warning. British Airways "wants customers to have early warning of its flying schedule to allow sufficient time for alternative travel arrangements to be made," it said.

"Disruption to our customers is extremely regrettable and we are sorry for the inconvenience."