Virgin Atlantic says that it will cancel three flights on both 9 and 10 January, but otherwise intends to run a normal service despite industrial action by the Unite Union representing cabin crew ” the first such walkout for the airline.
A Virgin statement noted that: ”On 9 January, one outbound flight to New York (JFK), one return flight to Chicago and a return flight to Boston will be cancelled. On 10 January, one return flight to New York (JFK), one return flight to Chicago and a return flight to Boston will be cancelled.
One outbound flight to New York (JFK), one return flight to Chicago and a return flight to Nairobi will be cancelled on 16 January.
On 17 January one return flight to New York, one return flight to Chicago and one return flight to Nairobi will be cancelled. One New York inbound flight will also be cancelled on both 11 and 18 January.”
Virgin Atlantic chief executive, Steve Ridgway, said: ”Our main priority now is to ensure that we can get as many of our passengers to their destinations as possible. We do not want to let them down so we have put in place thorough contingency plans which will enable us to run nine out of ten flights on each of the days affected by the action.
"I would like to apologise to our passengers whose travel plans may be disrupted and reassure those who are travelling with us that our number one priority is to get them to their destination."
Unite says there are differing pay rates between Virgin cabin crew and those of its competitors and cite British Airways crew in particular, as earning up to ”10,000 ($19,870) more working on the same business routes.
Negotiations have taken place during the past seven months, with Unite members rejecting a final company offer in November.
”Virgin”s cabin crew have voted for industrial action for the first time in the airline”s history,” said Unite national officer, Brian Boyd. ”They”ve not taken this decision lightly ” they are a world-class crew who”ve been undervalued for too long.
”Unite is calling on Virgin Atlantic to get back around the negotiating table to get through this impasse and avoid disruption in the New Year.”
Passengers who are booked on any flights which are cancelled due to the industrial action, are permitted to cancel their bookings and receive a full refund, regardless of any ticket restrictions.
In separate industrial news, workers at BAA”s seven UK airports have also voted for strike action in a protest concerning their final salary pension scheme.
The first walkout will take place from 06:00 on 7 January, while a further 24h stoppage is slated for 14 January. Another 48h strike is planned from 06:00 on 17 January.