LONDON- British Airways (BA) has finalized the long-term pay agreement with its pilots, with the goal of eliminating the renewed threat of strike action until at least 2027.
According to sources, British Airways, an International Airlines Group (IAG) subsidiary, is finishing an agreement with BALPA, the airline pilots’ union, on Thursday morning (October 5, 2023).
British Airways Pilots New Deal
The three-and-a-half-year deal, which has undergone months of negotiation, is expected to gain BALPA’s approval, after which it will be subjected to a vote among BALPA’s members.
One source indicated that they anticipated the agreement to be officially announced later on Thursday. As part of the agreement, BA pilots will see a 4% pay increase for this year, retroactive to June.
Subsequent raises include 1.5% in December, 2.5% in June, and 2% six months later. Further increases will consist of a 0.5% raise in March 2025, 2.5% in June of that year, and another 2.5% in June 2026.
In addition to the outlined pay structure, pilots will also receive a one-time payment of £1,000 this November, as confirmed by a source closely involved in the negotiations.
Furthermore, they will participate in a new incentive program linked to BA’s operating profit performance, potentially resulting in bonuses amounting to several thousand pounds.
Executive Comments
The subsequent pilot pay review is scheduled for January 2027. This agreement with BALPA follows the recent successful negotiations with unions representing approximately 24,000 other BA employees, who secured a 13% pay increase spread over 18 months.
A spokesperson from British Airways commented, “We are pleased that we have now reached an agreement in principle for the pilot pay award 2023-27. BALPA will now ballot its members on the agreement in principle. The pay offer builds on several pay and reward changes made in 2022 to support colleagues throughout the business during the ongoing cost of living pressures.”
BALPA clarified to Sky News that “No deal has been signed” at this stage.
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