Holidays at risk as Virgin pilots vote to strike in pay row

Tens of thousands of families face having their holidays ruined after  Virgin Atlantic pilots voted overwhelmingly for strike action.

The walk-outs by the airline's 750 pilots will hit key long-haul routes, including flights to Disney theme parks in California and Florida as well as  destinations in the Caribbean, the Far East and Australia.

Although strike dates have not been announced it is likely that a first walk-out would take place in July - with more to follow over the summer.



Chaos: The threat of summer holiday havoc at U.S. airports was raised today after Virgin Atlantic pilots voted overwhelmingly to strike in a row over pay

The pilots, who earn up to £110,000 a year, are angry at a 4 per cent pay offer after three years of salary freezes, says the British Airline Pilots' Association.

Some 97 per cent voted for walk-outs in a ballot that saw a 94 per cent turnout.

Sir Richard Branson's airline said it was disappointed but was preparing 'contingency plans' to deal with any walk-out.

 

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