British Airways will cancel dozens of flights and cancel new ticket sales over the Easter period due to a 10-day strike by security staff.
The airline has confirmed that around five per cent of all flights across the strike period would be cancelled, equating to around 16 round trips a day.
The worst hit flights will be multi-frequency short-haul flights with BA’s long-haul services not affected.
The action comes after more than 1,500 security workers at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 are set to walk out from March 31 to April 9.
British Airways is the worst affected operator as the sole provider of flights from Terminal 5.
The company also confirmed that it would be stopping the sale of tickets across the first few days of action in a bid to protect those who have already booked.
This comes after Heathrow called on airlines to stop selling tickets and offer flexible options in a bid to reduce the amount of footfall at the airport during the industrial action.
‘Small number of adjustments’
For those impacted by flight cancellations, Heathrow has offered full refunds, or the option to book another flight with BA or another operator.
It said that it expected the vast majority of its customers to be able to travel within 24 hours of their original flight.
It comes as negotiations between Heathrow and Unite the Union, the body representing security staff, appear to have stalled, with the 10-day strike a likely prospect.
Heathrow has said that it is deploying an additional 1,000 extra staff to provide assistance over the period.
A British Airways spokesperson said: “Following Heathrow’s requirement for us to reduce the number of passengers travelling during the period of its employees’ proposed strike action, we’ve regrettably had to make a small number of adjustments to our schedule.
“We’ve apologised to customers whose travel plans have been affected and have offered them a range of options, including rebooking onto a new flight with us or another airline or requesting a full refund.
“Our teams are continuing to work closely with Heathrow to ensure that our customers’ journeys run smoothly.”
‘Free-of-charge rebooking’
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic, the airport’s second biggest domestic operator, has said it will introduce a flexible ticketing policy for some existing customers, allowing them the option of booking onto another flight to avoid the strike period.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “Between 31 March and 2 April we expect the airport to be particularly busy, with longer wait times at security if the strike goes ahead.
“To support existing customers with departing flights, we’ve introduced a flexible policy which allows free-of-charge rebooking, if customers prefer to avoid the busiest published strike days.”
A Heathrow spokesperson said: “We will not let these unnecessary strikes impact the hard-earned holidays of our passengers. Our contingency plans will keep the airport operating as normal throughout.
“We are deploying 1,000 additional colleagues and the entire management team who will be in the terminals providing assistance to passengers over the busy Easter getaway.
“As at any busy time, it may take a little longer than usual to get through security, but this will be well managed and kept flowing.
“Passengers can help us ensure they get the best start to their journeys by checking their flight status with their airline before travelling to the airport, arriving at Heathrow no earlier than 2 hours before short haul flights and 3 hours before long haul flights and by being ready for security with their compliant liquids and electronics out of their hand luggage.”