British Airways cancels 100% flights as pilots strike over pay

British Airways pilots began a 48-hour strike on Monday, grounding nearly all its flights for Monday and Tuesday.

The strike was called for by the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) amid a heated dispute over pay with the airline.

BALPA said Sunday on Twitter that it put forward a proposal to the carrier’s management Wednesday, but had yet to receive a reply.

“We understand the frustration and disruption BALPA’s strike action has caused our customers.

British Airways said in a statement posted Monday it remains “ready and willing to return to talks with BALPA.”

The airline said it was forced to cancel so many flights because “with no detail from BALPA on which pilots would strike, we had no way of predicting how many would come to work or which aircraft they are qualified to fly.”

Customers who had flights booked for Monday and Tuesday will likely “not be able to travel as planned,” British Airways said. The airline also advised customers not to go to the airport.

Members of the pilots union voted 93% in favor of a strike in July. BALPA said last week that it would be willing to call it off if British Airways returned to the negotiating table.

“Following strikes on Monday and Tuesday, another day of industrial action is scheduled for September 27. Both sides say they are willing to hold further talks.

While the union is calling for higher wages, British Airways has said its offer of an 11.5% increase over three years “fair” and above the United Kingdom’s current rate of inflation. In a statement released last month, it said the strike could “destroy the travel plans of tens of thousands of our customers.” It called the strike “a reckless course of action.”