It takes 96 people to get a BA passenger in the air
It takes 96 people to get a British Airways customer in the air, according to research by the airline.
But agents probably won’t be surprised to learn that they are not part of the equation, which is based on the assumption that the booking comes direct to BA, not via the trade.
The airline calculated that from the time of booking to the moment a passenger arrives at their destination, there is an army of 96 people working behind the scenes – 23 before the flight even takes off.
These 96 different roles work across 18 different departments, using over 11 external suppliers in the process.
For premium customers, the figures rise to 107 roles for premium customers, due to extras like fast track boarding, lounge access and personal meet and greets.
To illustrate its point, BA has created a montage image, using headshots of people across the airline, its suppliers and partners that represent each of the 96 roles, mixed in with hundreds of images from around the airline.
"Our new TV advert shows the work that goes on behind the scenes, in order to get 100,000 people in the air every day. The research gave us a real appreciation for every single person that makes flying a seamless process. From the tug driver to the ramp agent, from NATS air traffic control to our chefs – there’s more people than you realise, that get you from A to Z," said Abigail Comber, British Airways head of marketing.
The research was carried out as part of BA’s latest ‘To Fly. To Serve.’ TV advert, which launches today at 11am on facebook.com/britishairways, and will then be shown on ITV during the ‘England versus Moldova’ World Cup qualifier.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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