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SCMP Reporter

BRITISH Airways' operations in Hongkong were largely unaffected yesterday by the airline's 24-hour strike by cabin crew and ground staff, but problems are expected to arise today.

   One of the carrier's two daily flights to Hongkong was cancelled due to uncertainty over the number of staff reporting to work. Flight BA027 is scheduled to arrive in the territory this morning.

  BA's two services to London from Hongkong departed yesterday unhindered.

  Problems could escalate today when passengers find their connecting planes are not there.

   Travellers at Britain's two main airports faced delays and disruptions yesterday after settlement talks on Thursday night failed to prevent cabin crew and ground workers carrying out their strike.

  BA persuaded union leaders to seek a quick end to a strike yesterday by baggage handlers and cabin crew, but the airline now faces a tougher battle with pilots who authorised a separate strike.

  The Transport and General Workers Union said on Thursday night it would begin a planned 24-hour walkout at midnight by its 17,000 BA workers.

  But the carrier's written assurances over pay and job security, delivered during a marathon emergency meeting, prompted union leaders to ask stewards yesterday morning to terminate the strike.

  However, before the night ended, the British Air Line Pilots Association said its members had voted for a separate strike, which union leaders could call any time in the next 28 days.

  BA had angered its unions with plans to transfer short-haul European flights out of London's Gatwick airport to a subsidiary that pays about 30 per cent less.

   The general secretary of the pilots union, Chris Darke, said he had released the vote results a day early to send BA a message that tougher negotiations were on the way.

  The pilots would not settle for assurances about pay and working conditions but would instead insist on a system-wide contract for all members who flew BA planes, he said.

  Such a deal could allow BA to pay pilots less on short-haul European flights out of Gatwick, where the carrier said it needed to cut costs to stem losses, Mr Darke said. But those pilots would be guaranteed the right to bid up to better jobs as they became available, he said.

  BA's attempt to pay workers at Gatwick less began last year with its purchase of rival Dan-Air, a British carrier specialising in short-haul European flights. Unions agreed that former Dan-Air workers could be paid less, but BA began transferring other flights to the cheaper subsidiary.



BA set to face more problems