Publishers stranded as BA cancels Bologna flights

16.03.10 | Caroline Horn in The Bookseller

British Airways has cancelled all its flights to Bologna in the run-up to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, as a result of the three-day strike by cabin staff beginning on Saturday 20th March and ending on Monday 22nd March.

The book fair opens on Tuesday 23rd March and runs until Friday 26th March.

BA is offering to change flights where possible, but those who want to fly to Bologna before the strike starts will need to fly out on the 19th March – three full days before the fair begins.

Those intending to fly to the fair from 23rd March are also likely to face disruption following the strike period. BA has not confirmed its flight schedule for short-haul flights into Europe from the 23rd to 26th March.

Publishers trying to return home at the end of the fair following break-down will be hit by the next four-day strike, due to begin on Saturday 27th March. BA has not yet confirmed its schedule for these flights.

Ryanair is the only other operator with flights direct to Bologna. It has laid on extra flights, but these were quickly snapped up when British Airways announced the cancellations yesterday evening.

Publishers may need to explore flying to other destinations in Europe and Italy with connecting flights to Bologna. Some are also opting for the overnight Artesia rail option that leaves from London St Pancras on the afternoon of travel for Paris, with a direct overnight train to Bologna. A one-way ticket yesterday (March 15th) evening cost nearly £300.