Showdown at Heathrow

24 July 2003

A strike would hurt the airline, but unlike many European rivals, it can afford it. The longterm cost of backing off would be much worse.

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British Airways and trade unions are in talks to avoid industrial action which could disrupt services at the height of the summer season.

This follows an unofficial strike over the weekend by about 250 BA staff at London's Heathrow Airport which forced BA to cancel hundreds of flights, stranding thousands of passengers.

An allout strike at this time of the year could cost BA £25m in revenues a day. Most of its costs are fixed.

BA's share price, which hit a low of 86p just before the Iraq war, has since almost doubled.

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