European Airline Industry Threatened Pilots Strike Union Before Tourist Season

European aviation industry threatened by chaos as more strikes planned before tourist season

Lufthansa and TAP Air Portugal moved closer Tuesday to facing strike action by their pilots’ unions, as British Airways braced for the second work stoppage in just over a week by thousands of its cabin crew.

If the wave of airline strikes spreads or continues into the summer, it could undermine the upcoming tourist season that nations in southern Europe — which have been hit the hardest by the financial crisis — are counting on to boost their recovery.

Portuguese Economy Minister Jose Vieira da Silva warned that a strike by TAP Air Portugal pilots would hurt the tourist industry badly.
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Strike of British Airways Cabin Crew Has Begun, Thousands Of Passengers Stranded

British Airways cabin crew have started a three-day strike that is set cause severe disruption for thousands of passengers.

The BBC’s Chris Rogers was on a BA flight from Heathrow to Amsterdam on Saturday morning.

Terminal 5 was teeming with stewards acting as guides for thousands of BA staff who have volunteered to replace striking cabin crew, the stewards were there to guide them though their first day on the job.

The airline has assured passengers the volunteers have been fully trained for the job.

I was a passenger on one of just a few scheduled flights with BA cabin crew who did turn up for work.

The three-man team told me they decided to cross the picket line and were allocated on the flight to Amsterdam.

One worker – who didn’t wished to be named – said he may regret it “but he and other colleagues were thinking about the long term effects the strike would have on the company”.
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