The majority of air passengers believe that the Unite union is solely to blame for the ongoing wave of British Airways strikes, according to new research by Cheapflights.

An online survey of 514 visitors to this blog found that 56.6 per cent (291 people) hold the union responsible for the 22 days of walkouts that have hit BA this year.

Just 16.5 per cent (85 people) felt that the airline itself was at fault over the dispute, though 26.8 per cent (138 people) said that the two sides must share in the blame.

The results of the online survey suggest that efforts by BA boss Willie Walsh to cut costs and safeguard the financial stability of the flag carrier enjoy widespread support.

However, they also point to growing disquiet among the public over the airline’s failure to resolve the long-running row. A previous poll by Cheapflights in February found that a higher proportion of passengers – 75 per cent – placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of cabin crew.

With four out of ten travellers now voicing a belief that Mr Walsh is at least partly to blame for the dispute, pressure will be growing on the airline boss to hammer out a final deal.

BA cabin crew have so far staged four waves of industrial action in March, May and June, disrupting the travel plans of millions of passengers and costing the airline upwards of £150 million in lost revenue. Unite plans to re-ballot its members over further summer walkouts within days.

The Cheapflights survey ran throughout the duration of the most recent walkouts, which began on 24 May and ended on 9 June. The full results are available on Polldaddy.

© Cheapflights Ltd (Picture credit: StartAgain)

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