Easyjet pilots back industrial action over fatigue

An overwhelming 96% of Easyjet (Other OTC: EJTTF - news) pilots have voted in favour of industrial action in a dispute over fatigue.

Brian Strutton, general secretary of the pilots' union Balpa, said that there was still hope the issue could be resolved before any action.

He said: "Balpa has received a last-minute offer from Easyjet to resolve the dispute and we will consider this carefully in meetings tomorrow before taking any further decisions.

"For clarity, that means there are no plans for pilots taking industrial action in Easyjet at this stage.

"We will issue further information tomorrow."

Turnout for the vote was 88% of around 2,000 UK-based pilots.

Easyjet said in a statement that it was "committed to working with Balpa to find a resolution to the issues raised and we hope to reach a mutually agreeable solution".

It added: "Easyjet can reassure its passengers that no industrial action is currently planned by its UK pilots."

Talks between the union and the airline had been running for more than a year before breaking down in August, prompting the ballot.

Any strike would be a first in Britain for the low-cost carrier, which was founded by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou.