BA confirms up to 1,200 bmi job losses
British Airways admitted yesterday that the takeover of bmi by its parent IAG could lead to up to 1,200 redundancies.
BA has begun consultation with trade unions on proposals to integrate bmi mainline into its operations at Heathrow, which it said could result in up to 1,200 redundancies at bmi’s head office at Castle Donnington in the Midlands and at regional airports.
BA claimed that without the merger, bmi – which is losing £3m a week – would have closed with the loss of 2,700 jobs.
It said the integration with BA would secure 1,500 jobs, including up to 400 passenger services jobs at Heathrow Terminal 1. It is proposing to unions that up to 1,100 bmi cabin crew, pilots and engineers based at Heathrow transfer to BA.
BA chief executive Keith Williams said: "Bmi is heavily loss making and is not a viable business as it stands today. Our proposals would secure around 1,500 jobs that would otherwise have been lost.
"As we look to restructure the business and restore profitability, job losses are deeply regrettable but inevitable. We will work with the unions to explore as many options as possible and are already working with industry partners."
BA’s parent IAG received EC approval to takeover bmi last week.
"This deal is good news for our customers and will offer new destinations, new routes and new schedules in due course," added Williams. "For customers with bmi bookings to or from Heathrow this summer, it is business as usual and customers can continue to book with confidence."
Consultation will seek to reduce the number and mitigate the impact of the proposed redundancies, he said, including the potential to offer vacancies within BA at Heathrow
BA also said it was working on potential job opportunities with industry partners in the Midlands, such as Rolls-Royce, and will look to create jobs at its engineering facility in Glasgow from January 2014 when the contract for bmi aircraft heavy maintenance work outside the UK expires.
Discussions with potential buyers for bmibaby and bmi Regional are continuing.
by Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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