Meet your new British Airways cabin crew!
Yes, British Airways crew is on strike, and if you’re booked with BA, you hopefully already know this. There have been abundant cancellations, and I’d refer you to the BA website for details.
But the disruptiveness of the strike isn’t limited to customers and staff at BA. Disrupted as well: Ryanair.
British Airways passengers turning up to Gatwick on Saturday for their 8:20am flight to Edinburgh are in for a slight surprise.
The aircraft waiting for them is scheduled to be one of three that BA has leased from its no-frills Irish rival, Ryanair, to help it cope with the impact of Saturday’s strike. Ryanair flight attendants, who must famously charge for everything from a cup of coffee to a sandwich, will also notice a change to their normal routine: they will have to serve food and drink free of charge.
“It will be BA service and BA catering,” said BA, adding that Ryanair cabin crew had been tutored in what this entailed earlier this week.
“Tutored”!
However, never missing an opportunity to take the low road, Ryanair management took a dig at their newest client:
“Never mind the coffee – being on time will be a new experience for these passengers,” said Stephen McNamara, a Ryanair spokesman.
The lack of legroom or windowshades may be a surprise for customers, too, big guy.
British Airways has leased aircraft from 11 different providers, not just Ryanair. But the odds are still good that operating flights will be operated by BA crew on a BA plane. Nearly 60% of BA crew apparently showed up for work, despite the strike.
Strikes are scheduled for March 20, 21, and 22 and 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2010. Strap in.
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March 22nd, 2010 at 6:05 pm
Did they lease aircraft/crew from Sir Richard, too? You know, those with “No Way, BA/AA” painted on the aircraft
March 30th, 2010 at 3:42 am
With the dramatic pre-strike cut in flights, and grounding of aircraft (a questionable executive decision, in and of itself), in conjunction with 60% of the BA Crew showing up for work, it would seem BA should be operating at close to 100% of their new capacity. Fasten your seatbelts…could this be a bumpy ride!?!?
April 1st, 2010 at 9:50 am
Clearly, dear BA is not taking advantage of the resources it has at it’s fingertips (equipment and cabin crew). It would seem all PAX may release their seatbelts, and walk freely about the cabin…there cannot be a bumpy ride when their widebody aircraft are not in the air making the transatlantic flights BA has been know for, while producing desperately needed revenue. It would seem time to revisit the characteristics BA’s boardroom, ground and flight crews implemented in the 1970′s and 1980′s, when BA became “The World’s Favourite Airline!” Let’s get those 747′s (including today’s 777′s) back into the air, and make them the workhorses they once were for BA. You have the equipment, loyal and contracted flight crews, terminals, landing/take-off slots (worldwide), et al — get off those well worn chairs, widebodies into the air, and bring BA back to the traveling Public (while you still have a Public to serve; before the other airlines earn their loyalty, in your stead!).