BA pilots set for pay cut as airlines slump June 7, 2009 BRITISH AIRWAYS’ (BA) pilots will vote this week on whether to take a voluntary pay cut, after the airline’s chief executive Willie Walsh said it was in a “fight for survival”. The carrier, which has reported record losses, said yesterday that union talks would “step up” this week, as pilots are balloted on how BA [...]
The best seat in the house June 7, 2009 WHEN you are travelling on business, there are certain things that you don't need to worry about. One of them is the quality of the seats on your plane. There is little more depressing than that sinking feeling when you realise that your seat on a 10-hour flight is going to be interrupted by people [...]
Spoiled for choice: the skies are full of options for business travellers June 7, 2009 Iberiawww.iberia.comSeating: Ergonomically designed with a double back pillow and additional massage function. Once you get comfortable the seat can be programmed to remember the setting. Adjustable lighting for reading as well as a satellite phone, laptop plug and a 10.4 inch touch screen for sending texts and email. Entertainment: 15 audio channels and 26 video [...]
BA and Lloyds in pension row June 4, 2009 LLOYDS has been told by an increasingly irate staff union to issue a formal guarantee it will keep its final salary pension scheme open for existing members, ahead of its high-profile shareholder meeting today. This came as British Airways admitted last night all options remain open over its pension deficit, boosting fears it will close [...]
British Airways sees a slump in air traffic as downturn hits June 3, 2009 FLAG carrier British Airways (BA) said yesterday its premium passenger numbers for May tumbled 17.2 per cent, as airlines struggle to fill seats during the downturn. BA said its economy passenger numbers were down by only 4.2 per cent. Overall passenger numbers were down 6.5 per cent, suggesting the previous month’s rise may have been [...]
Oil stocks push FTSE 100 lower for second day in row June 3, 2009 THE large cap index lost 2.1 per cent yesterday, dented by weakness in commodity stocks, banks and index heavyweight Vodafone, which traded ex-dividend. At the close, the FTSE 100 was down 93.60 points at 4,383.42, albeit above the session low of 4,359.33. Oil producers were the standout losers, retreating after recent gains in line with [...]
Walsh: BA fighting for survival June 1, 2009 British Airways boss Willie Walsh has issued a stark warning to the airline’s 41,000 staff, warning them that the company is in a “fight for survival”. The UK’s flag carrier is hoping to win big concessions from staff as it cuts costs.
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING May 31, 2009 THE SUNDAYSTHE SUNDAY TIMES SKY SAYS NO TO SETANTASports organisations including the Scottish Premier League may be forced to stomach deeper-than-expected cuts to their TV income after shareholders in Setanta failed to stump up enough cash to keep the broadcaster alive. Setanta’s financial position was so parlous this weekend that it asked arch-rival BSkyB for [...]
CITY MOVES WHO’S SWITCHING JOBS May 31, 2009 Old Broad Street ResearchThe investment funds research and consultancy firm has appointed Gill Hutchinson as head of investment consultancy and Nick Whalley as head of investment research. Hutchinson has managed the firm’s key investment consultancy relationships for many years, while Whalley joined OBSR’s research team in 2005. In his new role, he will be assisted [...]
ADDICTS, INCEST AND ORGIES: HOW THE STOCK EXCHANGE DOES DRAMA May 26, 2009 EXTRA-curricular activities (of the character-building, not reputation-trashing, sort) have become rather popular in the City since improving one’s CV became more of a necessity than an idle pastime. And in that spirit, keen Square Mile theatregoers will be happy to learn that SEDOS – the Stock Exchange Dramatic and Operatic Society – have been hard [...]