British Airways struggles on despite crew strike in London

JAKARTA (JP): British Airways (BA) is still serving Indonesia despite a 72-hour strike by its crew members in London, the air carrier said yesterday.

The company's Jakarta manager, David Jones, said that BA operated 25 percent more international flights yesterday than planned despite the industrial action by British Airlines' Stewards and Stewardess Association members.

"In Jakarta, three Heathrow-Jakarta and return flights have been affected, however all efforts have been made to place those passengers on the alternative flights of their choice," he said.

"We are currently running 65 percent of all flights internationally and expect that normal operations will recommence as of Monday."

BA increased last year its Jakarta-London service, via Kuala Lumpur, from four times to five times a week.

Customers due to fly with BA on flights which are not operating will be rebooked on alternative services, offered a full refund, or where available, a transfer to other airlines.

Customers that have already started their flights and are due to return during the strike period are asked to contact BA.

Air travelers braced themselves for more disruptions yesterday as BA cabin crew entered the second day of their strike with no solution in sight, Reuters reported.

As both sides squabbled over the legality of their 72-hour work stoppage, more than 25,000 passengers were left stranded Wednesday when the airline canceled half of its flights out of London and up to 30 percent of the 1,000 flights it operates worldwide each day.

BA's Director of Human Resources Mervyn Walker said the airline hoped to operate 20 percent more flights on Thursday, but a spokesman for the Transport and General Workers Union doubted it would make much difference. (icn)