Willie Walsh Talks About Recent News About British Airways

Recently there have been a lot of different things that British Airways has had to deal with. This includes the looming strike set for this Christmas from the Unite union, as well customers upset with the increase in certain fees. However, Willie Walsh has now come forward and given his take on the matter.

Right now British Airways has been in talks with the Unite union over more pay freezes and job cuts. British Airways has said that it must stand firm with this choice, and the Unite union says that this leaves them no choice but to ballot for a strike.

Walsh said that they had £400 million last year in losses, and this year looks bad as well. He says that the union has failed to see the significance in the current situation. If the cuts are not made, then the airline will not be able to stay out of the red and then everyone losses their job. These cuts are necessary since the airline is in a fight for survival.

Another thing that British Airways is dealing with is increased fees. Two new fees will be increased soon, which does include a new fee for bringing on a third piece of baggage. The other fee will be the charge for choosing a seat more than 24 hours before boarding the plane. Eighty-eight percent of customers said that they will not be willing to pay a fee to chose their own seat.

Willie Walsh said that he does not view this new charge as a gamble. He said that families will still be seated together, and seats can still be reserved for free as long as it is under 24 hours before the flight departs. He did note, by then, that all of the best seats will be taken by people that choose to pay the fee.