The ash is back May 17, 2010 BRITAIN’S airline industry is facing a fresh set of threats this week as aviation authorities prepare to close a number of airports ahead of a new and highly dense ash cloud which is expected to drift across the UK. Last night Heathrow, Gatwick and City airports were closed from 1am until at least 7am today. [...]
BA faced with triple dose of misfortune May 16, 2010 WILLIE WALSH, British Airways (BA) chief executive, is facing a trio of threats to the airline’s business during the same week it is expected to report over £600m in losses for the 2009 financial year. According to analysts, BA will report before tax losses of £613m when it publishes its 2009 financial results at the [...]
BA plans to operate half of its Heathrow flights during strike May 13, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) boss Willie Walsh yesterday condemned the planned three-week strike by cabin crew calling it “entirely disproportionate” while vowing to keep the airline going through out the walk out period. The flag-carrier plans to fly 60,000 customers, or 70 per cent of its flights, during the first of four strike periods, with 60 [...]
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 [...]
BA rejects strike talks as four execs are granted court costs May 11, 2010 BRITISH Airways (BA) yesterday said it would not go back into negotiations with the Unite union over the threat of a three week cabin crew strike despite repeated requests to do so. A spokesperson from the airline said BA has made its position clear and that further negotiations being sought by Unite will not happen. [...]
BA execs walk free as cartel case collapses May 10, 2010 CRIMINAL price-fixing and cartel proceedings against three former British Airways (BA) executives and one current one have been dropped. Yesterday morning Justice Owen directed a jury at the Southwark Crown Court to acquit Alan Burnett, Iain Burns, Martin George and Andrew Crawley of BA of price-fixing charges. The decision came after the Office of Fair [...]
Ruling deals devastating blow to OFT May 10, 2010 LAWMAKERS have called yesterday’s decision to drop criminal proceedings against current and former British Airways executives as a “big blow” to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT). The consumer watchdog was forced to drop its price-fixing case after a mountain of documents, which had originally gone unnoticed by the OFT during an investigation, were discovered. [...]
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 [...]
BOULTON, CAMPBELL IN BUST UP OF THE YEAR May 10, 2010 IF ANY readers were holed up behind a desk yesterday evening without access to a television, it’s time to indulge yourselves with a quick internet search, pronto. Yesterday’s Sky News coverage of Gordon Brown’s resignation as Prime Minister contained one of the best live TV snippets in years, as the channel’s political editor Adam Boulton [...]
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 [...]