British Airways passengers face disruptions

LONDON: British Airways workers are taking to the picket lines for the second round of strikes against the struggling airline.

Union officials say some 12,000 members are taking part in the four-day strike that began Saturday.

BA has been taking a hard line against strikers, and has promised to fly more than three-quarters of booked passengers. But its Heathrow services will be severely depleted — down to 55 percent for short haul and 75 percent for long haul — as the dispute over pay and changes to working conditions trudges on.

Both the airline and the union say they are willing to return to negotiations but there is little sign of reconciliation from either side.

A first round of strikes last week cost the airline around 21 million pounds ($31 million).