Balpa to consult BA pilot members on 'job protection package'

The union said the move followed three months of negotiations with BA and parent IAG, but stressed despite its best efforts, some redundancies would be inevitable, potentially up to 270.

"That is a matter of huge regret," said Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton. Balpa’s ballot of its BA pilot members will close on 30 July, the union confirmed on Wednesday (22 July).

Measures to ease the blow on Balpa’s wider BA pilot membership will be funded through pay cuts, that will initially start at 20% before reducing to zero over time.

BA announced in April it was seeking to reduce its pilot workforce by a quarter, with chief executive Alex Cruz claiming the move would be vital to its future post-Covid-19.

In total, around 4,300 pilots will be consulted, and Balpa is recommending its members accept the proposals, describing them as "the best that can be achieved in incredibly difficult circumstances".