BA optimistic despite strike strife

STEVE Gunning (right), managing director of British Airways World Cargo, remains cautiously upbeat about the company’s prospects despite the recent triple-blow of prolonged strikes, volcanic ash disruption and slow European cargo growth.

With the UNITE union set to re-ballot cabin crew for further strikes later in the summer the cargo division is confident that further action will have a negligible effect.

“The series of strikes by cabin crew have had less of an impact than you might think,” he said, adding that volumes were up 6.4 per cent in March, despite a curtailed schedule. “Short-haul services were hit harder than long-haul” – the latter being of much greater importance to air cargo. In addition, “our short-haul freighter operations allowed us to continue our European services with little disruption”, said Gunning.

For the full story read the latest free digital edition of Air Cargo News, dated 14 June, here.