Industrial action is affecting the fortunes of British Airways as the airline is forced to take steps to mitigate the effects of a walkout by its cabin crew members. On 16 March, the union representing the majority of British Airways (BA) cabin crew announced its intention to take strike action on the following dates:

• 20, 21 and 22 March 2010
• 27, 28, 29 and 30 March 2010

The Wall Street Journal reported that British Airways has prepared 23 "wet leases" as part of its plan to provide service whilst strike action is occurring. A wet lease is basically an arrangement that an airline makes to pay for an aircraft complete with crew and maintenance services either from a leasing company or another airline. The airline says that it had also lined up 1,000 BA staff to replace cabin crew during the strike and that another 6,000 had volunteered to help in other ways. According to the report, BA had been training pilots and ground staff as cabin crew in the event of a strike. The Unite union and British Airways have been in heated negotiations over cost cutting measures by the airline in the wake of an economic downturn. Among other measures, the airline has proposed reducing the number of cabin attendants on some flights – a move that has angered union members but one that the airline insists still meets or exceeds safety requirements. According to the Journal, the union has stated that it will not strike over Easter.