British Airways thanks Consumers for their Support

LONDON – British Airways has launched a print campaign thanking customers for their patience during the strike by members of its cabin crew, which ended yesterday (30 March).

British Airways: chief executive thanks customers in ad

The ad, running in most national newspapers today, takes the form of a letter from chief executive Willie Walsh.

In it, Walsh thanks the “thousands of customers” who have supported the airline during the industrial action by union Unite.

He claims that British Airways has managed to fly more than 80% of customers originally booked to travel with the airline during the strike period, although he concedes “there have been some disappointments”.

The chief executive states he is “deeply sorry for those customers whose plans have been disrupted” and thanked the “more than 60%” of cabin crew who continued to work.

The ad continues a dialogue Walsh began with BA’s consumers throughout the strike, with a number of YouTube videos designed to reassure consumers and refute Unite allegations.

Today’s ad concludes: “Unite has failed to ground British Airways. We have put in a fair and sensible offer to the union, and I hope it will allow its members to vote on it.

“Let us work together to create an airline that can invest in better services for customers and provide long-term opportunities for all our staff. An airline that is great. An airline for the future.