LONDON --- British Airways canceled more than 1,000 flights after its cabin crew launched a three-day strike Saturday, wreaking havoc on the plans of tens of thousands of passengers just before the busy spring holiday season.
BA scrambled to rebook some passengers on other services, chartered planes from rival airlines and drafted in volunteer crew. But it still had to scrap more than half of its 1,950 scheduled flights over the period.
Chief Executive Willie Walsh issued an apology via YouTube for the walkout, the airline's first in almost 15 years, saying it was a "terrible day for BA."
On Saturday morning at BA's London Heathrow hub, the cavernous Terminal 5 was nearly deserted after some passengers had flown out early to avoid the strike or simply stayed away altogether. But delays were beginning to mount and passengers were warned that many long-haul flights would not have full meal services.
The Eurostar train service between London and continental Europe and Virgin's rail services between London and Scotland were expected to be busy as passengers sought other transportation.
BA said the disruption likely would last beyond the three-day strike. A second strike is planned for March 27-30.
BA's pilots are not part of the strike, after their union resolved a separate dispute over pay with the airline.
U.S., German and Spanish unions have given some support for the action, but stopped short of pledges for coordinated activity that would disrupt BA's ability to refuel and service the planes it is operating during the walkout.
BA said it would handle as many as 49,000 passengers both Saturday and today. That compares with the average 75,000 for a normal weekend day in March.
At its Heathrow base, more than 60 percent of long-haul and only 30 percent of short-haul flights will operate. London City Airport flights, including flights to New York, were operating as normal.
Another union doing what they do best, driving companies out business.
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