BA averts 24-hour strike with last-minute deal

BRITISH Airways (BA) and a union representing its cabin crew reached a last-minute agreement yesterday to avert a 24-hour strike due to begin at midnight, allowing the carrier to reinstate all flights from London.

BA said it did not expect delays on flights out of Heathrow or Gatwick over the next two days as it scrambled to put its full flying schedule back in place, but said that some flights would not operate a full catering service.

The Transport & General Workers’ Union also cancelled two 72-hour strikes planned for early February after the agreement was hammered out on cabin crew pay, pensions and sick leave. The union represents around 11,000 of the airline’s 14,000 cabin crew members.