Looming Strike Raises Concerns for British Airways

Recent reports suggest that British Airways pilots have been advised by their union to borrow £25,000 each in preparation for a long strike over their pension scheme.

The British Airlines Pilots Association has said it is preparing for an all-out strike of its 2,822 members at BA. The company will announce plans by the end of March to cut the cost of its main pension scheme which has a deficit of more than £900 million.

The union believes the company might ask staff to make higher contributions, work longer or accept lower benefits, in an attempt to bolster the scheme´s finances.

The pilots are particularly worried about the possibility of losing their final salary scheme for one based on their average salary throughout their years of work.