Thomas Cook pilot strike to affect more flights in and out of East Midlands Airport

thomas,cook,plane
Thomas Cook plane

A strike by Thomas Cook pilots over pay and conditions will affect a number of flights in and out of East Midlands Airport.

Pilots will strike this Friday (September 29), the third such strike called by the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) following Saturday’s (September 23) industrial action.

The strike will run from 12.01am until 11.59pm, and no flights have been cancelled but a number have been rescheduled.

Thomas Cook says all affected customers have been notified.

East-Midlands-Airport
Flights are expected to be re-scheduled.

Speaking before the first strike action, BALPA general secretary Brian Strutton said: “Tortuous negotiations at ACAS have failed to resolve the pay dispute between Thomas Cook and BALPA pilots.

“While both sides have compromised there is still a considerable gap. Regrettably this means the strike on Saturday goes ahead.

“We understand this strike will affect people’s travel plans, something which we deeply regret.

“BALPA has given ample warning to enable Thomas Cook to change its schedules and minimise passenger disruption.

“I have also offered strike dispensations to help out in the hurricane hit Caribbean – our argument is not with passengers.

“We need Thomas Cook to understand just how resolute pilots are and how frustrated they are with the company.

“We urge the company to come back to the negotiating table with a better offer so this situation can come to an end.”

BALPA say talks between themselves and Thomas Cook are ongoing.

There had not been a pilot strike for more than 40 years before September but two have already happened this month, with the third planned for Friday.

Notts TV has contacted Thomas Cook for comment.

It follows the cancellation of a number of flights by Ryanair, announced last week due to mistakes in the airline’s pilot rota system.