Airline strike signalled

FLIGHTS out of Cork to three British airports could be affected by a strike by a low-cost carrier’s pilots.

The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) announced yesterday that its members working with bmibaby have voted to go on strike over pay.

The pilots are understood to have backed industrial action by a majority of three-to-one, but as yet haven’t issued any date for the start of their action.

BALPA is in dispute over pay after complaining about a 2.4% rise.

Pilots at the main BMI airline, of which bmibaby is a subsidiary, are also being balloted over pay, as well as planned increases in pension contributions. That ballot will take place next week.

Bmibaby operates three routes out of Cork to Manchester, Birmingham and Durham Tees Valley.