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| BA seeks resolution in pilot row | |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| British Airways pilots have agreed to independent conciliation in an effort to resolve a dispute over BA's plans to launch a new transatlantic subsidiary. | |
| BA and the British Airline Pilots Association jointly expressed a "strong desire" to reach a peaceful outcome. | BA and the British Airline Pilots Association jointly expressed a "strong desire" to reach a peaceful outcome. |
| Earlier, Balpa members voted to strike over what they said were plans to staff BA OpenSkies with crews on inferior terms to those of existing staff. | Earlier, Balpa members voted to strike over what they said were plans to staff BA OpenSkies with crews on inferior terms to those of existing staff. |
| Balpa, which represents 3,000 BA pilots, says 86% voted to strike. | Balpa, which represents 3,000 BA pilots, says 86% voted to strike. |
| The turnout in the vote was 90%. | The turnout in the vote was 90%. |
| BA and Balpa issued a joint statement after a meeting at the airline's headquarters near Heathrow airport. | BA and Balpa issued a joint statement after a meeting at the airline's headquarters near Heathrow airport. |
| BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We welcome the progress made today and are confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation which will protect our customers from the possibility of disruption. | BA chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We welcome the progress made today and are confident that a settlement can be achieved through conciliation which will protect our customers from the possibility of disruption. |
| "We are proud of the professionalism and high reputation of our pilots and have never sought conflict with them." | "We are proud of the professionalism and high reputation of our pilots and have never sought conflict with them." |
| Negotiation | Negotiation |
| Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "The ballot result shows the strength of feeling of our members about the implications of the creation of OpenSkies. | Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan said: "The ballot result shows the strength of feeling of our members about the implications of the creation of OpenSkies. |
| "We have no quarrel with the travelling public and have always maintained that these issues could be resolved through negotiation rather than confrontation." | "We have no quarrel with the travelling public and have always maintained that these issues could be resolved through negotiation rather than confrontation." |
| Balpa says the terms and conditions at the new BA OpenSkies venture will drive down those for pilots flying BA's main fleet. | Balpa says the terms and conditions at the new BA OpenSkies venture will drive down those for pilots flying BA's main fleet. |
| But British Airways denies trying to undercut its pilot workforce and says the creation of OpenSkies will not "in any way affect their current pay and conditions or threaten jobs". | But British Airways denies trying to undercut its pilot workforce and says the creation of OpenSkies will not "in any way affect their current pay and conditions or threaten jobs". |
| Under the Open Skies agreement, the US and EU regulatory authorities eased restrictions on air travel. Now, any EU-based airline will be able to fly from any city within the EU to any city within the US. | Under the Open Skies agreement, the US and EU regulatory authorities eased restrictions on air travel. Now, any EU-based airline will be able to fly from any city within the EU to any city within the US. |
| BA's new airline plans to offer daily flights to New York direct from Paris and Brussels from June 2008, with further routes to follow. | BA's new airline plans to offer daily flights to New York direct from Paris and Brussels from June 2008, with further routes to follow. |