Travel agents stop selling BA due to strike action

Local travel agents say they will not be recommending British Airways to their clients, following the announcement of seven days of strike action by BA cabin crew.

More than half a million British Airways passengers face disruption after the Unite trade union announced its intention to strike after the airline withdrew its latest offer on pay and working conditions.

Unite has called a series of strikes by up to 12,000 flight attendants, beginning with a three-day walkout on 20 March and then a four-day stoppage from 27 March.

Further strike action will take place after 14 April if there is no deal by then.

Agents said they would stop selling BA to their customers due to the disruption the strikes had caused. “Arabian Pacific made a commercial decision several weeks ago to stop selling BA from our flight options as we felt with the ongoing threat of strike action our clients would be best advised to book alternative options,” Mark Reed, general manager, Arabian Pacific Travel & Tourism LLC told ATN.

“If the client is insistent on booking BA we would take it on a case by case basis and make them fully aware of the process and time period for refunds if cancellation was required.”

Reed added that the strikes will lead to a major loss of business and reputation for the airline.

“The strikes mean that people can’t plan properly and can’t assume if flying BA they can get from A to B on their required dates/times without any disruption. It is difficult as even loyal BA followers probably support the airline and not the union.

“The tarnished image and the perception of the customer not coming first again will take a long time to repair, if ever. BA will struggle to get these passengers back who switch to other airlines, even if they offer very aggressive prices once they settle their differences. Their problem is it is their front end and BA Executive club customers who will really feel let down and whom the airline should want to keep and not the price conscious shoppers who will not show any airline loyalty anyway.”

Adeel Ahmed, Supervisor OutBound Dept, Belhasa Tourism & Travel said: “British Airways is one of the most prestigious airlines, but if they go on strike they will definitely lose quite a lot of business and as you know still the recession is not over yet.”