Striking British Airways pilots’ union chief jets off on latest luxury break after strike action wrecks holiday plans for thousands of families
THE pilots’ union chief who has wrecked families’ summer holiday plans has been branded a hypocrite after sneaking away for a luxury break.
Hours after announcing strikes to cripple the British Airways schedule, Brian Strutton caught a flight to Spain for a sunshine Med cruise.
Clutching his suitcase, the Balpa boss squirmed with embarrassment as we confronted him at the airport.
Asked why he should enjoy a holiday when his actions will lead to tens of thousands of Brits missing out, he stuttered: “Hmm, well we are trying not to affect other people’s holidays, of course.”
The union man, on £141,000, arrived at Bournemouth airport with wife Sue and two grown-up sons at 6am.
He sauntered towards the TUI desk ahead of the Majorca flight on Saturday for the seven-day cruise.
'HE'S A HYPOCRITE'
A senior aviation source told The Sun: “He’s a hypocrite.
"If he was serious about averting strikes, he’d be sitting around the negotiating table rather than swanning off on holiday.”
High-flyer Mr Strutton bragged about a previous holiday in April by showing off photos on Facebook. He posed with his travel happy wife on a beach in Valencia.
The pair were also seen on family Facebook page snaps - now taken down - at Rome’s Colosseum in 2017 and in Quiberon, France, in August, 2016.
His union represents 3,800 BA pilots, and Ryanair fliers, who are both going on strike over pay. Tens of thousands of BA flights are being grounded on September 9, 10 and 27.
Aviation experts have warned of another four days of cancellations and delays with aircraft and cabin crew being in the wrong place.
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Despite the GMB and Unite accepting BA’s 11.5 per cent pay rise and one-off lump sum offer, Balpa’s pilots turned it down.
It would have seen their income soar to more than £200,000.
The Sun revealed BA’s pilots are less worried about the pay deal than the pending loss of a secret bonus scheme they have enjoyed for nine years.
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