BA launches court bid to halt cabin crew strikes

British Airways today launched a British High Court legal battle in a last-ditch bid to avert strikes by cabin crew.

The airline, facing mounting chaos because of the industrial dispute coupled with the volcanic ash cloud, is urging a judge in London to grant an injunction blocking the action.

Mr Justice McCombe is being asked to grant an order for “interim relief” against the union Unite.

BA argues that Unite has not “properly complied” with the requirement to “send everyone eligible to vote details of the exact breakdown of the ballot result”.

At the start of proceedings in a packed courtroom, David Reade QC, for BA, told the judge that his application was for interim relief – an injunction - “seeking to restrain the defendant trade union from inducing breaches of contract in respect of a strike”.

The airline has urged its staff to volunteer to work during the strikes – set to disrupt flights for over 20 days, starting tomorrow.

Members of Unite are due to walk out from May 18-22 inclusive, then from May 24-28, May 30-June 3 and June 5-9, the last strike ending just days before the start of the football World Cup in South Africa.

The union is “vigorously” defending its ballot.