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British Airways experienced another public relations fiasco over the weekend, after thousands of passengers were wrongly told their flights had been canceled. The debacle occurred following the Aug 23 announcement by BALPA that it plans to strike in pursuit of a pay claim Sept 9, 10 and 27. BA immediately said it would offer refunds and rebookings for passengers booked on flights canceled as a result of the strikes. Within 24 hours, however, the UK media was filled with reports from irate passengers who had booked replacement flights with other airlines after receiving emails from BA that their flights had been canceled on nonstrike days. According to the BBC, thousands of passengers complained of being unable to contact BA customer services as the airline attempted to work through a backlog of 40,000 calls. <br/>

Qantas is under renewed pressure over the forced deportation of asylum seekers, with an American investment firm joining a proposed shareholder resolution calling on the airline to review its policy and processes. The Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility has teamed up with US–based asset manager Mercy Investment Services to co–file a motion urging the airline to examine its involvement in deportations. The organisation wants Qantas to justify how deportations square with its commitment to the United Nations guiding principles of business and human rights. Qantas shareholders will consider the motion at the airline’s upcoming annual general meeting in late October. Qantas has consistently stated it would not refuse deportations. <br/>