The cabin crew of beleaguered carrier British Airways Plc began a five-day strike Monday, after negotiations between the trade union and and the company broke down, DPA reported.
The company said 60 per cent of the airline's long-haul flights and 50 per cent of the short-haul flights from London's Heathrow Airport would continue to operate, according to a Sky News report.
Flights from other airports are not expected to be affected.
"British Airways will be flying tomorrow," chief executive Willie Walsh was quoted as saying Sunday by British daily The Independent. "We will not be grounded by the actions of a tiny minority who are clearly out of touch with reality."
Last-minute negotiations broke down Sunday, after the company rejected an offer by the Unite union representatives to call off the strike if staff travel perks were restored.
The company's 12,000 cabin crew have been protesting for months against planned spending cuts and working conditions. Two strikes in March may have cost the airline tens of millions of pounds, analysts say. Further five-day walkouts are planned for May 30 and June 5.
The Court of Appeal last week overturned an earlier ruling that had blocked a previous planned strike.
The British carrier posted record losses of 425 million pounds (616 million dollars) in the year ending March 31. It has recently launched a series of cost-cutting measures, including the abolition of crew members' right to buy tickets at heavily discounted rates.
British Airways cabin crew on strike
The cabin crew of beleaguered carrier British Airways Plc began a five-day strike Monday, after negotiations between the trade union and and the company broke down.
