BA cabin crew strike holding well

This is to provide the company with a "cushion" so that should "real" crew fail to show, BA has a fall back. The company is also including in yesterday's figures of those who reported for work international cabin crew (who are not on strike) and those on 24-hour stand-by (a higher than usual number have been rostered) who are then told to report for ground duties (so counted in figures as working).

834 staff were rostered yesterday. This is essentially the crew number for a full schedule but BA only planning to run 60 per cent service. So putting on 40 per cent more staff then they need.

Worldwide flights - Yesterday 473 staff did not turn up to work. 361 reported but this includes: temporary crew, international crew, ground volunteers (strike-breakers). This is around 56 per cent on strike.

There is evidence that BA is using more 24 hour shift schedules to give it more flexibility.

Euro fleet- 274 staff did not report to work. 248 went in, but on a normal day there would have 1,000 staff. Unite believes BA is rostering to reduced schedule as on this fleet the company can use more ground staff as they can come and go in one day (the journeys are short so they don't have to stay away).

Tony Woodley, Unite joint general secretary, said: "This strike is now in day nine. The meter is running at £7 million per day, which means BA has lost £63 million at least on the strike - and that is before it counts the cost of business lost when passengers look elsewhere during the peak summer period.

"On what planet does it make sound business sense to spend shareholders' and investors' money this way? Or to allow this instability to drag on? The solution lies with Willie Walsh. He must waste no further time or resources but instead work with us to settle this strike."