British Airways boosted by £2.4bn loan and pensions deal as travel restrictions keep flights grounded
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British Airways has boosted its cash reserves with a £2bn loan agreement and by deferring certain pension payments, while the airline if buffeted by travel restrictions and lockdown.
British Airways owners IAG said the airline will begin drawing down a £2bn loan from a sydicate of banks and partially guaranteed by UK Export Finance.
The airline will also defer monthly pension contributions of £37.5m owed from October 2020 to September 2021, letting it keep hold of £450m.
It only impacts payments to the New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS), which closed to new members back in 2003.
The scheme was in £2.4bn deficit as valued in March 2018 and BA had an annual plan to plug the gap. It has so far topped it up by £1.34bn.
British Airways-owner IAG rose 1.4 per cent to 168p per share shortly after the London market opened this morning.