British Airways workers at Heathrow call off strike

Airline staff become second set of workers at the West London airport to drop protest in a week

A British Airways flight comes into land at Heathrow Airport, London. PA

Hundreds of British Airways staff at London's Heathrow have voted to call off strike action, averting further disruption at the airport which is already struggling to cope due to a staff shortage.

Members of the GMB and Unite unions had voted for industrial action in a row over a pay cut during the pandemic.

After extensive negotiations, the company made a new offer, which members were balloted on and accepted.

Earlier this month, British Airways' check-in staff at Heathrow suspended a strike after the airline agreed to improve its pay offer.

This week, fuel workers at Heathrow Airport also called off a strike which would have coincided with the start of the UK's school summer holidays.

The beleaguered airport is already suffering from delays and caps on passenger numbers owing to staff shortages. The chairman of Heathrow, Lord Paul Deighton, has laid the blame for travel chaos on airlines failing to recruit enough baggage handlers.

Staff represented by the GMB and Unite unions voted to approve their respective pay offers from British Airways, they said on Friday.

“No one wanted a summer strike at Heathrow, but our members had to fight for what was right,” said Nadine Houghton, national officer for the GMB union.

British Airways through the years — in pictures

British Airways has been flying for over 100 years. It was founded as Aircraft Transport and Travel Limited in 1919. All photos: Getty Images

A British Airways Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft taking off in 2021

British Airways employees welcome Olympians returning from the Tokyo Olympics at Heathrow Airport in August 2021

A British Airways Boeing 747-400 aircraft arrives at St Athan Airport in Wales in 2020, after setting off for its last flight

A British Union flag flies from the cockpit of a new Airbus A380 aircraft after landing at Heathrow Airport in 2013

Spectators watch as the last Concorde lands at Heathrow Airport in 2003

British Airways Concordes at Glasgow Airport in 1983

David Nicholson, the first chairman of British Airways after the merger of a number of UK airlines, proudly displays a model of the Concorde in 1973

The first Boeing 747 to be operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation arrives at Heathrow Airport in May 1970

Hawker Siddeley HS 121 Trident 1C medium-range commercial jets for British European Airways at de Havillands Hatfield Aerodrome in 1963

A British Overseas Airways Corporation Comet III aircraft on display at Farnborough in 1954. The British Overseas Airways Corporation was formed in April 1940

Passengers queuing to board a British European Airways Vickers Viking aircraft in 1950

The British Overseas Airways Corporation Short Solent passenger flying boat docks at her new berth near Tower Bridge in London in 1949

A British Overseas Airways Corporation air stewardess brings a tray of coffee to passengers during a Second World War flight in 1945

A British Airways passenger aircraft at Gatwick Airport in 1936

Four Handley Page W10 and one Handley Page W9 Hampstead aircraft operated by Imperial Airways are christened by Lady Maud Hoare, Viscountess Templewood, at Croydon Aerodrome in 1926. Imperial Airways was created in 1924

GMB said workers would now receive a consolidated pay rise of 8 per cent, a one-off bonus and the reinstatement of shift pay.

In addition, more than 500 members of Unite, who initially voted in favour of industrial action over a pay dispute with British Airways, also accepted a new pay offer.

Unite said the offer was worth a 13 per cent pay rise for staff, which will be paid in several stages.

Any strike at Heathrow could have further pressured an aviation industry struggling with staff shortages, which have resulted in long queues and cancelled flights amid increased demand from travellers after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Representatives for British Airways did not immediately respond to a request for comment.