BA boss looks to the future
British Airways new chief executive Willie Walsh has outlined plans to spend £100 million on upgrading its long haul business class and £300 million on its relocation to Terminal 5.
On his first day in the role, the former Aer Lingus boss denied there would be drastic cost-cutting but, in an interview with the Financial Times, said the move to T5 in 2008 would present new technologies, including self-service and online check-in that would “strip out activity no longer required.”
He said staff implications of the move “would come later” although a rationalisation of jobs is inevitable.
New flat-bed business class seats are expected to be unveiled later this year before a gradual roll-out early in 2006. The investment would hit £100 million, said Walsh, who insisted BA would remain committed to world-class premium travel.
He added the airline would make significant investments in flight entertainment and in the ba.com website.
“There are further opportunities for efficiencies all across the airlines which we will need to deliver to ensure our financial viability and to allow us to invest in the future,” he said.
The aim, he said in statement, is to realise Rob Eddington’s goals of a 10% operating margin, up from 6.9% last year.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
All eyes on Qatar as Qatar Airways leads a season of global events