British Airways

Today's news that British Airways staff will go on strike at the height of the Christmas rush leaves up to one million not-so-festive travellers facing gridlock at UK airports.

Both sides in the dispute say they still want to reach an amicable solution, but with nine out of ten staff voting for industrial action it seems likely the strikes will go ahead as planned – spelling...

British Airways has revealed that its much-vaunted new premium-only service from London City Airport to New York is already profitable after just ten weeks.

The flag carrier launched the service amid significant fanfare in September, even christening it with the prestigious BA001 flight number previously used by Concorde.

Despite initially predicting the route would only...

British Airways will resume direct flights to Zimbabwe next spring after an absence of two years, a senior government official has claimed.

The UK flag carrier severed historic ties with the African country in September 2007 amid a deteriorating political and economic climate under President Robert Mugabe.

But according to David Chaota, chief executive officer of the Civil...

Could British Airways, which announced its agreement to merge with Iberia just ten days ago, now be considering an alliance with Qantas, the Australian airline?

According to a report in today's Financial Times, the recent deal with Iberia clears the way for such a tie-up.

Talks between BA and Qantas foundered last year, after the airlines failed to...

British Airways' cabin crew have today (Monday, November 16) received ballot papers from the Unite union. The ballot, on strike action, will close on December 14, also the date for the next mass meeting of cabin crew. If the ballot papers show support for a strike, industrial action could start on December 21 and take place throughout the busy Christmas travel period.

In a...

British Airways (BA) and Iberia have made a preliminary agreement to merge. The agreement comes after more than a year of negotiations and is expected to be completed in late 2010.

The merger, if it is completed, will create the world's third-biggest carrier, with 419 aircraft flying to 205 destinations.

Under the terms of the deal, the Spanish airline will take a...

Shortly after Sky News announced on Wednesday that the deal between British Airways and Iberia was imminent, an industry source has denied the claim.

The unnamed source said: "The talks are still going on and there is no imminent announcement scheduled."

Cheapflights reported the story back in March after a report in The Times also confirmed that the merger was...

British Airways is this week expected to announce its largest ever interim loss as cabin crew prepare to vote on winter strikes that could deepen its financial crisis.

The flag carrier will unveil a crippling £250 million pre-tax deficit over the past six months, The Times reports, putting it on track for the biggest full-year loss in its history.

BA already posted...

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh is to meet with union chiefs today as part of a renewed bid to avert looming industrial action this winter.

The airline boss, himself a former negotiator for the Irish Airline Pilots Association, will spearhead efforts to persuade frontline staff that cutbacks are necessary.

Cabin crew have already said they will go to the ballot...

The proposed transatlantic alliance between British Airways and American Airlines looks set to run into familiar difficulties, according to The Financial Times.

European regulators have resurrected concerns that any tie-up would stifle competition on transatlantic routes from Heathrow Airport, potentially driving up fares.

In a confidential document sent to the carriers,...

With the introduction of British Airways’ new direct service to Las Vegas, there’s never been a better time to visit Sin City.

Nevada's largest city attracts people from all over the world to book flights to Las Vegas and promises an experience like no other. The city is home to some of the wackiest themed hotels and resorts in the world, from acrobats performing in the lobby...

British Airways is to take part in a new round of talks aimed at heading off potential industrial action by unions angered with the airline's latest job cuts.

The flag carrier last week unveiled plans to axe 1,700 jobs, and with rumours circulating of a further 1,300 redundancies unions say they may have "no alternative" but to strike.

If industrial action goes...

British Airways passengers can now book Club Europe holiday packages through ba.com thanks to a major upgrade of the flag carrier's website.

The new service, which follows a technological update at ba.com, enables flight reservations to be combined with bookings for 5* hotels in Europe.

Fears are growing that UK airports could be hit by industrial action over the winter months after British Airways unilaterally announced 1,700 job cuts.

The flag carrier has incensed unions by forcing through the cost-cutting measure, which will reduce cabin crew numbers on long-haul Heathrow flights from 15 to 14.

A spokesman for the Unite union confirmed that the move made...

British Airways has revealed that it will be forced to axe a "significant" number of short-haul routes if no third runway is built at Heathrow Airport.

The stark warning came from CEO Willie Walsh, who cautioned that pledges by a future Tory government to scrap expansion plans would be disastrous for the airline.

He said that if BA is unable to secure new landing...

British Airways' (BA) new all-Business-Class service to New York JFK is scheduled to take off from London City Airport tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29).

While the cost of flights (starting at about £2,000) are not at the cheap end of the spectrum, there is one interesting new development - onboard internet access.

Passengers on the converted A318 aircraft, which has...

When British Airways (BA) stopped passengers from bringing their surfboards (and other pieces of equipment such as windsurfing boards and sails, hang gliders, kayaks, canoes, pole vaults and javelins) on flights in November 2007, it caused consternation among surfers. BA said at the time that it was due to "the large size and handling complexities" of the items.

Now, thanks...

British Airways (BA) has already cut its baggage allowance and abolished free meals on short-haul flights in attempts to balance its books, its latest money-making idea is to charge for seating.

From October 7, passengers who wish to sit together or who wish to secure a window, aisle or emergency-exit-row seat will have to pay.

The charges will start at £10 per person per...

British Airways is considering launching leisure routes from London City Airport in a bid to boost volumes during the off-peak season for business travel.

Bloomberg reports that the flag carrier is looking at deploying its new fleet of Embraer 190 jets to open up links with destinations such as Majorca and Ibiza....

British Airways is refusing to confirm or deny that it is engaged in talks over the possible acquisition of rival carrier bmi, The Derby Telegraph reports.

Several news sources claimed this week that BA is among a group of airlines that have signed confidentiality agreements with bmi's current owner, Lufthansa.

The German flag carrier is thought to be seeking a...

British Airways is to return to television screens after a two year absence on Monday (September 7), when its new marketing campaign takes to the airwaves.

The flag carrier hopes that the advertising strategy, which focuses on "opportunities," will rekindle enthusiasm for air travel and help reverse its financial woes.

It has been hard hit by the recession,...

British Airways' flights to St. Kitts have proved so popular that the airline is to introduce another daily service from March 2010.

The airline flew more than 4,000 passengers to the tiny isle in the northern Leeward Islands in the first half of this year, and Richard Tams, Head of UK and Ireland Sales for British Airways, said: “We’re delighted to be increasing the number of...

British Airways' reputation has been dealt a severe blow after Prime Minister Gordon Brown decided to fly with Virgin Atlantic on a trip to the US next month.

Cabinet members usually fly with the flag carrier on overseas business, but according to The Telegraph Virgin managed to undercut BA's price by 30 per cent.

British Airways (BA) has unveiled a handy tool for travellers on its website - the Low-Fare Finder. The easy-to-use chart lists BA's 150 destinations and allows users to see exactly when fares are lowest. It follows hard on the heels of the Value Calculator, launched in June, which compares the cost of BA flights with those of the major low-cost airlines such as easyJet and...

Visitors to British Airways' (BA) website and those flying with the airline will notice some changes come October.

In a bid to stem rising losses, British Airways is to allow companies to advertise on its website and boarding passes.

British Airways (BA) has increased its fares by up to £40 per return flight on long-haul routes.

Economy-Class flyers and those in Premium Economy (BA's World Traveller and World Traveller Plus classes) will have to stump up an extra £20 per return flight.

Passengers travelling with British Airways will soon have to pack a little lighter, with the airline cutting its free baggage allowance in World Traveller cabins.

From October 7, the allowance on most of BA's long-haul routes will be slashed from two bags to one, while other restrictions on sporting equipment will also apply.

British Airways posted first quarter losses of £148 million this morning (July 31) as the airline warned the industry to brace itself for tough times ahead.

This is the first time BA has posted a Q1 loss since privatisation in 1987, with the three months to the end of June traditionally being its most profitable quarter.

During the same period last year the flag carrier...

Further details of British Airways' reduced in-flight catering service have emerged, with business class meals now being targeted for cost-cutting.

According to a report in today's Financial Times, the flag carrier will be axing complimentary canapés and chocolates from all of its long-haul First and Club cabins.

British Airways has announced that from next week it will no longer provide lunch or dinner on short-haul flights – a move that will save it £22 million.

The flag carrier is replacing its sandwiches, rolls and meals with more basic snacks such as crisps, nuts and chocolates, with no option to purchase extra food.

British Airways has begun unveiling details of the cutbacks to its winter 2009 timetable.

The airline's Heathrow to Sydney via Singapore connection will be scaled back throughout the winter months, with passengers being re-accommodated on alternative flights.

Alongside the cancellations, unconfirmed reports suggest that BA services to Chicago, New York, Seattle and...

More than 211,000 customers of British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have applied for refunds in the wake of the carriers' fuel surcharge price-fixing scandal.

Some 170,000 of the claims were filed by UK-based passengers, newly released figures show, but they form just a fraction of the millions eligible for partial refunds.