British Airways warns it could abandon Gatwick to ensure it can survive in an ‘increasingly lean and unpredictable industry’
- British Airways has today told staff it may cease to operate flights out of Gatwick
- Comes as it was revealed the airline is seeking to cut pilot numbers by a quarter
- BA would cut 1,130 captain and co-pilot jobs from its headcount of 4,346
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
British Airways has today told staff it may cease to operate flights out of Gatwick airport after the coronavirus pandemic.
The news was revealed in a memo, written by the head of BA’s Gatwick operation and seen by BBC News.
This comes as it was revealed the airline is seeking to cut pilot numbers by a quarter as it slashes costs to weather the coronavirus crisis, according to a letter sent to union leaders.
British Airways planes seen parked up on March 31 at Gatwick airport
Under the plan, BA would cut 1,130 captain and co-pilot jobs from its headcount of 4,346, the IAG-owned airline’s head of flight operations told the BALPA union in the letter.
The letter, written on April 28, reads: ‘In a short space of time the situation has significantly deteriorated.’
It adds that BA may yet be forced to suspend the few services still running from London Heathrow.
‘There are no clear signs of improvement in air passenger demand,’ it adds.
A spokeswoman for BA did not immediately return calls and messages seeking comment on the planned cuts, which were first reported by Sky News.