Despite what analysts are calling a “turbulent” year – in which fuel costs soared and Heathrow’s new Terminal 5 caused widespread travel chaos - British Airways has announced annual pre-tax profits of £883m – an increase of 44.5%.
However, although BA staff will be sharing bonuses totalling £35m, chief executive Willie Walsh has said he will not be taking his personal bonus entitlement of £700,000, claiming “it would be inappropriate in the context of the very disappointing opening of Terminal 5 in March.”
Long-suffering BA passengers, who are wearily waiting for the inevitable announcement of fare increases for all the usual reasons, united in their praise of Mr Walsh’s selfless act of personal sacrifice.
“Thanks to the efforts of Willie Walsh and his staff, I got three holidays in one,” said one traveller. “First I had a unscheduled extra day enjoying the thrillingly ultra-modern facilities of 21st-century, Richard Rogers-designed architectural masterpiece, then my luggage got a free tour of Europe, from which it’s only just returned - and I still had the holiday I’d originally booked! Marvellous.”
“Some people called for Willie Walsh’s head on a plate after the Terminal 5 shambles,” said another, “But that’s not fair. He should have his head on a spike for milking passengers dry and cynically claiming fuel costs as a handy excuse.”
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