London: British Airways Plc's 12,000 flight attendants were expected to end seven days of strikes over pay and staffing levels at midnight yesterday boosting the chances of a return to negotiations that broke down on March 19.
BA Chief Executive Officer Willie Walsh and Unite union leader Tony Woodley have said repeatedly this month that they're open to talks. A resumption during the walkout was "always unlikely," said Liz Chinchen, a spokeswoman for the Trades Union Congress, which has been acting as an arbiter. "But the focus once the strike is over will be to try again," she said.
The carrier, which has scrapped hundreds of flights in the wake of its first strikes since 1997, yesterday stuck to its outlook for the fiscal year that ends today. A four-day shutdown that began March 27 cost about £11 million (Dh148.5 million) over the weekend, following losses of £21 million from a three-day walkout earlier this month.
"Ultimately, this can only be resolved through negotiations so once the strike is over I'd expect them to talk again," said Gert Zonneveld, an analyst at Panmure Gordon in London with a "hold" recommendation on the stock. "It seems that the impact on BA may not be as severe as expected, though whether that changes the power balance in favour of management isn't clear."
British Airways fell 2.4 pence, or 1 per cent, to 248.6 pence as of 11.22am in London trading.
