BA’s business-only flights launched at City Airport September 29, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS (BA) yesterday launched its premium-class only flights from London to New York, as its chief executive said the route would be profitable within a year. The flight, which comes as passengers shun upper-class flying in a bid to save cash, goes from London City airport, and stops in Ireland. The flag-carrier has traditionally [...]
FIGHT FOR CITY OPENS UP WITH A GOOD CUPPA November 17, 2009 IF THERE’S one City high-flier who finds it hard to say no to a new opportunity, it must be Stuart Popham, the jovial senior partner of legal giant Clifford Chance. Popham – in addition to his role at the head of the world’s largest law firm, his chairmanship of the CBI’s London council, and his [...]
BAs’ unions threaten strike action if staff are forced to leave the airline October 7, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS’ (BA) staff unions were last night locked in emergency talks, following the carrier’s decision to cut 1,700 cabin crew staff. The ubiquitous Unite union claims BA made the move without reaching an agreement, and us now threatening strikes over the Christmas period. Earlier this week, BA said 1,000 of its cabin staff had [...]
THE LONDON REPORT November 30, 2009 BRITAIN’S leading share index shed 1.1 per cent yesterday, ending at session lows, dragged back by weakness in oil majors and banks on lingering anxiety over the impact of Dubai’s debt problems. By the close, the FTSE 100 was down 55.05 points at 5,190.68, its lowest closing level for three weeks. The blue chip index [...]
O’Leary ready for departure October 5, 2009 MICHAEL O’LEARY, the ubiquitous boss of budget airline Ryanair, could stand down within a year, industry experts said yesterday. The news came as the airline dismissed reports that Ryanair could take control of Aer Lingus through a rights issue. “Our position on Aer Lingus was recently confirmed at the Ryanair AGM, which is that we [...]
BA shorthaul is threatened by the downturn September 28, 2009 FLAG carrier British Airways (BA) may be forced to slash some of its short-haul flights to restore earnings, an industry expert has said. “This is an airline that really has to bite the bullet on short-haul, looking long and hard at what it’s costing and whether they can ever get a decent margin out of [...]
BA axes 1,700 cabin crew as losses mount October 6, 2009 BELEAGUERED British Airways yesterday said 1,000 of its cabin staff have agreed to take voluntary redundancy, with another 3,000 moving from full-time to part-time work – the equivalent of 1,700 full-time job cuts. The carrier has been on a massive cost-cutting drive to return to profitability, with chief executive Willie Walsh and finance director Keith [...]
BA September passenger figures dash hopes of a recovery in aviation sector October 5, 2009 FLAG carrier British Airways (BA) carried 0.8 per cent fewer passengers in September year-on-year, dashing hopes the commercial aviation industry was recovering from the deep slump caused by the global recession. The airline, whose alliance with American Airlines and Iberia is being scrutinised by Europe’s competition watchdog, said yesterday its premium, or business class, passenger [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING November 22, 2009 THE SUNDAYSThe Sunday TelegraphWOMEN DIRECTORS EARN 50PC LESS THAN MENFemale board directors in the FTSE 350 are being paid half as much as their male counterparts, new research has found. The average female board director took home £178,246 in salary, bonuses, benefits and pension contributions in the 2008-09 financial year, while the average male director [...]
Pressure still on for BA, despite the Iberia deal November 16, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS’ agreement to a $7bn merger with its Spanish rival Iberia has highlighted just how much the airlines have struggled during the recession. A surging oil price ahead of the financial crisis had put pressure on costs, which saw both businesses and consumers tighten their belts, causing passenger numbers to slump. The merger, said [...]