BA’s Cruz vows to ‘keep talking’ to avert strike
Ian Taylor Madrid
British Airways boss Alex Cruz is “convinced” the airline will reach an agreement with its pilots to avert a threatened strike. BA pilots, members of the union
Balpa, voted overwhelmingly to strike in a ballot last month, in a dispute over pay and a demand for a share of the airline’s profits. Te carrier went to the High
Court to seek an injunction against the union to stop a strike at the end of July. When it lost, BA appealed to the Court of Appeal where its application was rejected again last week. But Cruz said on Monday:
“I’m convinced there will be an agreement. We are talking. I like the atitude everyone is displaying. We will keep talking until we reach an agreement.” Cruz rejected a suggestion that
BA’s court action risked souring relations with its pilots. He said: “I make no apologies for
seeking to avoid disruption. I make no apologies for going to court to try to prevent disruption in August. We are seeking agreement.” Balpa has yet to announce strike
dates. It is legally obliged to give 14 days’ notice of industrial action –
Club Suite seat on BA’s new A350 aircraft; inset, Alex Cruz
Lacey to leave Advantage to relocate to Dubai
Advantage Travel Partnership group commercial director and board member Paula Lacey will leave in September to relocate to Dubai. Lacey, who is moving for personal
reasons, has worked for Advantage for three years, during which time she has achieved “a number of milestones to aid both leisure and business travel members, through commercial marketing, membership, Advantage Holidays and PR”, according to the consortium. She said: “I have spent a lot of
time in Dubai in previous roles so when an opportunity to relocate arose, I jumped at it. I am looking forward to finding a role in Dubai that will use my skills and experience.” Chief executive Julia Lo
I make no apologies
for going to court to try to prevent disruption in August. We are seeking agreement
meaning strikes over August bank Holiday are still possible. General secretary Brian Struton
warned: “BA must table a sensible, improved offer if a strike is to be averted. BA is making massive profits. Pilots deserve a small fraction of that
Crawford joins Hays IG to pursue
‘ambitious expansion plans’ Neil Crawford has joined Hays Travel Independence Group as manager responsible for recruiting new members. He previously held a similar role at Freedom Travel Group for five years. Crawford said Hays Travel IG had “ambitious plans” to grow its membership over the next few years. Hays Travel IG has 226 high street stores and 276 homeworkers.
6 8 AUGUST 2019
profit via, for instance, a profit share scheme.” Cruz was speaking at Heathrow at
the launch of BA’s first Airbus A350 service on Monday and the unveiling of a new Club Suite business-class seat on the aircraſt, set out in a 1-2-1 configuration that gives every passenger access to an aisle. Te first A350 will operate twice
a day between Heathrow and Madrid in August while crew familiarise themselves with its features, then switch to Heathrow-Dubai from September 2. BA has 18 on order, with four due for delivery this year.
Liverpool John Lennon offers
holidays in tie-up with Myriad Liverpool John Lennon airport has teamed up with a local independent travel agency to create a holiday arm. Liverpool Airport Holidays is being run with local Atol-protected Global Travel Group member Myriad Travel and offers tailor-made packages to 70-plus destinations served by flights from the airport.
Bue-Said thanked Lacey for her three years’ service and announced two promotions: Lee Ainsworth, trading and product manager for Advantage Holidays, to head of Advantage Holidays; and HR manager Olga Kelly to head of people and talent.
Paula Lacey
Profit gives travel firms advice as
part of Counter Fraud Campaign Anti-fraud group Profit is offering travel companies advice on how to detect a fraud and what action to take as part of its Counter Fraud Campaign. The email campaign, run in conjunction with the Fraud Intelligence Network and the City of London Police, said signs of a fraud included several people claiming to hold bookings not in the system and transactions taking place at odd hours.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURES: Nick Morrish/British Airways; Steve Dunlop
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