A body representing the interests of 12,000 pilots working for American Airlines has come out in support of British Airways’ pilots’ opposition to the new Open Skies subsidiary airline.
Last week, BA pilots voted to take strike action in a dispute over working conditions at the new operation, though BA and the pilots are currently scheduled to hold conciliation talks on March 3.
However, the US Allied Pilots Association (APA) has now revealed its support for BA pilots’ cause, leading to concerns about the potential affect that strike action by both sets of pilots could have on air travel between the UK and US.
In a statement, the APA president, captain Lloyd Hill said: “As far as outsourcing is concerned, the British Airways pilots’ struggle is our struggle.”
“Our pilots have experienced firsthand the career damage brought about by outsourcing,” he added. “We stand foursquare behind our British Airways colleagues in their efforts to stop this threat to our collective livelihoods.”
Between them, the two airlines operate almost 70 per cent of flights between London Heathrow and US destinations, The Times reported.
