THE ZERO EFFECT ON BA's PROFITABILITY

British Airways claims that the new Staff Travel scheme will bring the airline "into line" with other carriers. This is untrue.

As far as we know only one carrier, Qantas, has changed its staff travel scheme and introduced qualification periods as the new BA scheme envisages. However, Qantas recognised the fact that its pensioners had no choice regarding their relationship with the company and allowed them to remain on the same scheme as they'd enjoyed before.

Staff and pensioners enjoy staff travel privileges on other carriers. These arrangements have been enshrined in the complex Interline Agreements between carriers which cover not merely Staff Travel but the entire relationship between companies. British Airways is not proposing the renegotiate these agreements. Thus the pensioners of other, sometimes competitor airlines, will be able to travel as staff travellers on British Airways whilst the same privilege is denied to British Airways' own retired staff. This is patently unfair.

Finally, all staff passengers actually make a positive contribution to British Airways' bottom line. Governments charge airlines travel taxes on a per aircraft basis. Thus BA pays the same total tax whether one seat is occupied or whether every seat is taken. Thus if an unsold seat is filled on departure by a BA staff member or pensioner, that person pays the travel taxes due for that journey, thus adding to British Airways' revenue.