BA closes first-class cabins
British Airways has this morning confirmed that it has closed its first-class service on a number of flights because of a shortage of cabin crew.
Michael Holland, managing director of Jubilee shipbuilders, reportedly told The Times newspaper that on a recent flight from Heathrow to Tokyo the first-class cabin was closed, which led to business-class passengers being downgraded to economy. He added: “It was a shambles; everyone was seething.”
A spokesman for British Airways this morning told News From Abroad: “We can confirm that due to staff shortages we have been forced to close first-class cabins on a small number of flights. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused to passengers.”
The carrier is reportedly planning to recruit up to 300 new cabin crew, along with 100 check-in staff, to cope with the shortages. Today’s edition of The Times quotes a director of “one of the UK’s largest travel-buying companies”, who reportedly told the newspaper: “I cannot believe they would do such a thing.”
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 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt