British Airways unveils plans to make 400 job cuts

International Airline Group (IAG), the FTSE 100 company which owns British Airways, has warned that it has entered talks with unions to discuss plans to cut jobs within the airline's cabin crew based at Heathrow airport.

BA is starting a 90-day period of consultations with Unite, the airline's union, to discuss the option of voluntary redundancy.

The airline, which employs a cabin crew of around 14,000, said that it would offer a redundancy package to senior employees of the crew.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

In a statement British Airways said: "We are offering voluntary redundancy to some members of our senior cabin crew to help address an imbalance in our crew numbers. Based on the feedback from our senior cabin crew in the past few months, we believe that there will be good demand for this opportunity."

The redundancies will be made on both long-haul and short-haul flights.

The airline's sister company, Iberia, has already caused trouble with its union after unveiling controversial plans to slash 4,500 jobs, prompting strike threats during the busy pre-Christmas period.

The share price was 0.23% higher despite the news, at 171.70p by 14:05.

NR