British Airways Cancels London Heathrow Flights

August 12, 2005

British Airways Cancels London Heathrow Flights
August 12, 2005 – British Airways has canceled all flights in and out of London’s Heathrow Airport until Friday afternoon.

BA Chief Executive Rod Eddington said there would be no flights until 1700 GMT on Friday at the earliest after ground staff walked out. Baggage handlers, loaders and bus drivers walked out in sympathy with workers at Gate Gourmet, the firm that provides the airline with its in-flight meals, the BBC reported.

Gate Gourmet dismissed 350 workers after an authorized strike Aug. 10. The British Airways workers who walked out are represented by the same union, the Transport and General Workers Union.

At least 20,000 people were stranded on Thursday after some 120 flights at Heathrow were canceled. Hundreds of flights also left London earlier without meals on board for passengers. Flyers were provided with food bags or vouchers at the airport before boarding flights.

British Airways said it also is reviewing its flights for Aug. 12, and customers should check for updates at http://www.ba.com/ before going to the airport. They will be rebooking customers from the canceled Aug. 11 flights, but said they probably would not depart until after the weekend. Customers also can choose to get a refund instead.