British Airways’ services between Aberdeen and Heathrow face massive disruption in the run-up to Easter after cabin crew union Unite called strikes for seven days over the next two weekends.
A bitter row erupted as talks in London between the airline and the union broke down. Unite accused BA of withdrawing an offer to staff and the company’s chief executive Willie Walsh insisted it was conditional on the strikes being called off.
He accused the union of trying to “break” the airline.
A BA spokesman refused to guarantee any service would run between Heathrow and Aberdeen on strike days, despite the company’s promise to use a combination of non-striking crew and 1,000 volunteers to keep some flights in the air.
The walkouts have been called for the three days from Saturday, March 20, and the four days from Saturday, March 27.
Unite has promised not to take action over Easter.
BA operate six flights each way daily between Aberdeen and Heathrow and the service has suffered disproportionately when there has been disruption in the past.
The company has prioritised long-haul services at the expense of domestic passengers.
The spokesman, asked if some service would be maintained to Aberdeen, said: “I cannot answer that.”
He said much would depend on how many crews and volunteers were available.
Decisions are likely to be taken early next week.
But alternative services are on offer – by BMI to Heathrow, Flybe to Gatwick and EasyJet to Luton.
Flybe announced it would increase the number of seats available between Aberdeen and Gatwick.
Bob Collier, chief executive of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: “The long-term effects of this to BA could be significant if passengers opt to use other carriers for domestic flights, and more significantly perhaps if they decided to cut Heathrow out as an international hub and switch instead to alternatives such as Paris or Amsterdam.
“It is unfortunate that business and other travellers face potential disruption or cancellation of flights.”
Angus SNP MP Mike Weir said: “I hope this time BA will spread the pain more widely and ensure some service to Aberdeen is maintained.
“BA have tended to concentrate on long-haul services and internal flights have suffered, seriously hitting the business community in the north-east.”
Gordon Liberal Democrat MP Malcolm Bruce urged BA to “show some commitment to the north-east”, adding: “It would be very unacceptable if BA were to pull all their Aberdeen flights.”
Aberdeen North Labour MP Frank Doran said the dispute was “very unfortunate” and urged both sides “to get together and hammer out their differences”.
A spokesman for the Scottish Council for Development and Industry said: “We hope disruption can be minimised and there will be as quick a resolution of this dispute as possible.”