BA chief exec turns down £334k bonus June 10, 2010 WILLIE WALSH, the British Airways (BA) chief executive, was the only senior level member of the airline to turn down a bonus last year, as the airline faced increasing financial losses and industrial action launched by cabin crew. Walsh, who was in line to receive a £334,000 bonus awarded in shares, declined to accept it [...]
BA may go to court again as strikes drag on May 25, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) passengers faced a second day of flight cancellations this week as the bitter dispute with trade union Unite showed no signs of ending. The airline yesterday denied claims that it would take last week’s appeal judgment to the Supreme Court, but did not rule out that the battle could end up back [...]
Dame Clara and Lord Marshall to be Nomura’s first non-Japanese directors May 17, 2010 NOMURA has nominated business grandees Dame Clara Furse and Lord (Colin) Marshall to join the group board, the first non-Japanese candidates to be proposed as directors. The appointments will be put to the shareholder vote at a general meeting of the bank next week. Marshall, the former chairman and chief executive of British Airways and [...]
BA hit by more crew strikes May 10, 2010 BRITISH Airways crew are to launch another strike after talks between the airline and union Unite broke down. Cabin crew are expected to cause disruptions during four separate periods, which will affect half-term and bank holiday passengers. BA staff will strike on the following dates: 18-22 May, 24-28 May, 30 May- 3 June and 5-9 [...]
Hosting World Cup could give £3.2bn to UK May 12, 2010 THE economy would be £3.2bn better off if England hosts the 2018 football World Cup, according to a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Business leaders including Sir Alan Sugar cited the findings yesterday as they backed the bid. Sugar from BBC1’s The Apprentice and British Airways chief Willie Walsh said winning the bid to hold the tournament [...]
Unite warns BA of strikes over summer May 31, 2010 UNITE, the union representing British Airways (BA) cabin crew, is preparing a new strike ballot that could see the airline’s operations disrupted during the all-important summer holiday period. Speaking yesterday at the union’s conference in Manchester, joint general secretary Tony Woodley warned that BA chief executive Willie Walsh’s “hard-man stance” on refusing to reinstate cabin [...]
BA and Iberia agree merger April 8, 2010 BRITISH Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia have signed a deal to merge if shareholders and regulators give the green light. The merger, which was provisionally agreed in November last year, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. In a statement the two companies said the deal would be a boost for [...]
BA price-fixing trial collapses May 10, 2010 THE trial of four senior British Airways executives accused of price-fixing with Virgin Atlantic collapsed when prosecuting lawyers said they would not be offering any evidence. Competition watchdog the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), bringing the first such prosecution of allegations of dishonest collusion between the two airlines, had failed to disclose key documents to [...]
BA strike gives rivals a boost May 24, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) faced the first day of a mammoth cabin crew strike action yesterday, while rival easyJet reported a spike in bookings from new passengers. BA said yesterday that it flew at least one flight to all of the short haul destinations it serves, while 85 per cent of long-haul destinations were served. Gatwick [...]
RHJ closes on Kleinwort in £225m deal July 1, 2010 ONE of the oldest names in the City, Kleinwort Benson, changed hands for £225m yesterday as buyout house RHJ International acquired the business from Commerzbank. The institution, which traces its roots back to the 18th century, will use a period of private ownership to revitalise its brand by returning to merchant banking. The company will [...]