UK gives go ahead for BA to use of Qatar planes during cabin crew strike

British authorities have given British Airways permission to use Qatar Airways planes and staff during a planned two-week strike by members of its cabin crew.

A spokesman for the Department for Transport revealed this measure on Friday.

Industrial action is expected to start on 1 July and is planned to last for 16 days in a long-running dispute over pay and sanctions on employees.

Howard Beckett, Unite assistant general secretary, said bosses removing travel concessions from crew who took part in previous strikes is “punishing staff” for using “legitimate industrial means to reach a wage deal”.

A BA spokesperson said: “As on the previous dates when Unite called strikes of mixed fleet cabin crew, we will fly all our customers to their destinations.

“Strike action is completely unnecessary.

“We had reached a deal on pay which Unite’s national officers agreed was acceptable. We urge Unite to put the pay proposals to a vote to their members.”

‘Second jobs to make ends meet’

Tensions have been running high over pay and conditions at the airline.

The dispute involves cabin crew who have joined the airline since 2010, with Unite claiming they earn less than other staff.

The union said a recent survey revealed almost half of the new cabin crew had taken on a second job to make ends meet, with some saying they had to sleep in their cars between shifts because they could not afford the petrol to drive home.

Earnings were advertised between £21,000 and £25,000 per year.

But Unite say in reality it starts at just over £12,000 plus £3 an hour.

They claim the airline refused to extend the mandate of the strike vote to allow for talks to resolve an ongoing dispute over “poverty pay” to continue.

BA has committed to fly all its customers to their destinations during the strike.

BA, owned by IAG, had applied to use nine Qatar planes and staff in an arrangement with Qatar Airways, which is a close partner of BA.

The transport department's decision had been taken on the advice of Britain's Civil Aviation Authority, a spokesman said.