British Airways says it expects to carry over 60,00 passengers today as the Unite union attempts to challenge a high court decision to ban a series of cabin crew strikes.
A judge granted an injuction against Unite, blocking a fresh wave of planned walkouts, after BA argued that the union had not “properly complied” with the rules on striking.
The court ruled that Unite had failed to “send everyone eligible to vote (on industrial action) details of the exact breakdown of the ballot result”.
The decision to award BA the injunction came as a huge relief to the airline but was met with fury by union bosses.
Despite the court ruling, BA says that contingency plans mean it can only operate around half of its scheduled flights from Heathrow on Tuesday.
BA has been facing mounting chaos because of the industrial dispute and a volcanic ash cloud that has forced the company to cancel hundreds of flights.
But Unite‘s leaders have described the court decision as “an absolute disgrace” and vowed to launch their appeal today.
The union’s national aviation officer Steve Turner told Sky News: “There’s no challenge to the democracy and the legitimacy of our ballot.
“This was a pure technicality revolving around the notification, the communication of the result to our members which we believe was absolutely right and absolutely in compliance with the law.
“We used tried and tested methods to communicate with a global workforce that, at any one point, could be at any point around the globe.”
Some 12,000 cabin crew had been due to stage the first of four five-day walkouts from midnight.
The airline is aiming to restore a full flying programme at Heathrow airport by the weekend and full schedules are planned at Gatwick and London City airports.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has urged the two sides to settle their differences.
“I have met with British Airways and Unite and made it clear that both parties must get back round the negotiating table urgently,” he said.
“I want them to use this breathing space to resolve this dispute, both to avoid disruption to passengers and to safeguard the future of the airline.”
The dispute revolves around pay, jobs and working practices, including staffing levels on flights.
Members of Unite were due to walk out from May 18 to 22 inclusive, then from May 24 to 28, May 30 to June 3 and June 5 to 9.
