British Airways is to train ‘scab’ aircrews from the rest of its workforce in a bid “to keep as many planes in the sky as possible” in the event of looming industrial action.

Many expats living in Spain will no doubt be interested to read that BA are considering training up non-cabin crew staff to act as aircrew to maintain services in the event of a strike. Although the threat of a strike has been ruled out for Easter, BA seem keen to ensure that in the event of a strike they can continue to fly to Spain, and all other countries.

British Airways (BA) cabin crew today ruled out striking over Easter in their dispute with the airline over jobs and working conditions in a move to quash a public backlash against workers.

The decision move comes amid widespread horror from passengers at the prospect of having their Easter holidays disrupted, so soon after flights over Christmas were put in danger because of the cabin crew’s earlier strike threat.

The much anticipated merger between the British Airways and Iberia could take place as early as next month, according to a statement by Caja Madrid, the bank which is also Iberia’s largest shareholder.

The bank’s chairman Miguel Blasa said that February could prove to be a decisive month for the deal as things were on track and did not feel that threats of strikes by the British Airways’ cabin crew would have any kind of impact on the merger.

British Airways faces the renewed threat of strike action after the Unite union said it will ballot cabin crew later this month.

The Unite union said today that a new ballot will open on January 25 after two weeks of talks BA management failed to produce an agreement on changes to working conditions.

Disaffected British Airways cabin crew have resorted to pouring vintage wine down the sink on the plane and throwing away unused washbags in protest at what they claim is the airline’s “disregard” for their working agreements.

Members of the British Airlines Stewards and Stewardesses Association (Bassa), a branch of the Unite union respresenting BA’s 13,000 cabin crew, said they were opting for “passive resistance”.

A strike by British Airways cabin crew planned for Christmas has been declared illegal in a High Court ruling.

The court agreed with BA that the cabin crew’s union, Unite, had not correctly balloted its members on the strike action.

The injunction means that the 12-day strike cannot now go ahead.

Unite called it “a disgraceful day for democracy” and vowed to hold a fresh ballot of cabin crew if the dispute with BA was not resolved.

Virgin Atlantic has taken the decision to put larger aircraft on key routes such as New York, Boston, Washington and Delhi, providing over 1,600 extra seats during the period of industrial action.

The extra seats will go on sale over the next 24 hours.

“It is a nightmare for passengers, and you have to feel for them at Christmas time. Any strike would obviously be extremely damaging to everybody – the company, employees and most importantly the travelling public.” said Sir Richard Branson, president of Virgin Atlantic.

Managers are braced for news of walkouts by thousands of members of the Unite union in a long running row over changes to working practices, a pay freeze and job cuts.

A mass meeting of workers will be held today ahead of an expected announcement of what action will be taken.

The union will have to give seven days notice of strikes, so the first walkout could be on December 21, at the start of one of the busiest weeks of the year for airlines.

The board of Spanish national airline Iberia have agreed in principle to the terms of the merger offered by UK airline British Airways. The general terms are 55% of the new company will belong to BA and and 45% to Iberia.

The stock of both companies has rocketed on the stock market.

A joint report by both companies has been issued to British and Spanish market regulators informing them of the advance in the plans to merger.

British Airways (BA) has said that it and Spanish airline Iberia are holding separate board meetings later to discuss some form of merger.

BA said in a statement that the meetings would consider a “potential transaction” between the two sides.

However, it added that no decisions had been taken and there could be no guarantee a deal would take place.

The firms have considered a tie-up for a number of years, holding talks on the issue in July 2008.

British Airways has reported a loss before tax of £292m ($485m) for the six months to the end of September, as the recession continues to hit airlines.

It is the first time BA has reported a loss in the first half of its financial year. Last year it reported a profit of £52m for the same period.

BA said revenue over the six-month period was down 13.7%.

The latest rise will push up the cost of checking in a third bag onto an aircraft for a longhaul flight from £32 to £72 from November 10 for economy class passengers.

If the bag is checked in at the airport the fee new fee will be £90.

The increases are the latest in a series of additional charges introduced in recent months by British Airways, which lost £401 million in the last financial year.

Unite has announced it will ballot 14,000 cabin crew over whether to launch a campaign of action in protest over the airline’s planned changes, aimed at slowing significant losses for a second year running.

The UK flag-carrier infuriated staff earlier this month by cutting 1,700 jobs, imposing a two-year pay freeze and changing working practices, without any agreement from the union and despite months of negotiations.

British Airways has said it is to cut 1,700 jobs and plans to introduce a two-year pay freeze for cabin crew as it looks to cut costs in the downturn.

The airline also announced it would press ahead with plans to recruit new staff on different terms and conditions to current employees.
The airline is losing money and expects to make a big loss for the second consecutive year.

Unite said the airline was following low-cost carriers by introducing charges for seat reservations and warned it could drive customers away.

The unions said the move ”tarnished” the airline’s image and was another ”misguided attempt” to mimic budget airlines.

National Officer Steve Turner said the announcement was ”complete madness” and accused the management team at BA of ”rapidly losing its way”.

British Airways is to introduce new charges for passengers wanting to choose their seats ahead of travel in a move which will add £160 to the cost of a long-haul holiday for a family of four.

It would affect people who wish to guarantee they can sit together as well as those with a preference for aisle or window seats.

BA, which lost £401 million in the last financial year, is imposing the levy as it tries to balance its books.

More than 14,000 joined the campaign, called Protest British Airways’ Surfboard Ban, after BA instigated the policy without warning in November 2007.

Previously BA had been one of the most surfer-friendly airlines, as it did not charge to carry boards worldwide.

Surfing websites were flooded with messages from aghast surfers vowing never to fly BA again.

Desperate to raise extra cash, airlines have cut the limit on baggage in a move which could add at least £100 to the cost of a holiday for a family of four.

The levies are being imposed against a backdrop of airlines facing their worst financial crisis since the September 11 terrorist outrages, with fare income plummeting because of the global recession.

It has been touted as the world’s favourite airline — and occasionally been one of its most derided — but as it turns 90 today British Airways is facing its worst crisis so far.

Willie Walsh, the chief executive, has warned that BA is in a “fight for survival” and has launched a clampdown on costs across the company.

You may not have noticed unless you are a regular visitor to ba.com but British Airways has started to do what a few years back would have been unthinkable: it has started taking advertising on its website. The site currently shows a tasteful advert for Jaguar’s new XJ car.

It is but the thin end of the wedge. The airline has already said it is to start putting adverts on its boarding cards in the autumn although it insists that any advertisers will have “a strong heritage”.