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BA and AA announced in the wake of a transatlantic alliance that flights between the UK’s main airport and the Big Apple will now depart every hour between 1pm and 8pm. Flights to Chicago and Miami will also be evenly spaced.

A BA spokesman said: “‘We are finally able to align all our flights and offer customers more frequent services. Previously, our services would depart at the same time as AA’s.'”

From the end of this month BA and AA will operate a total of 11 flights a day between Heathrow and JFK on a new timetable, thanks to a partnership that allows them to co-operate on schedules and pricing.

source: Guardian.co.uk

British Airways grounded two jumbo jets after a passenger complained of being badly bitten by bed bugs during two separate long-haul flights.

The airline fumigated one of the planes on which it confirmed there had been an infestation and apologised to the woman for her ordeal.

Businesswoman Zane Selkirk revealed her body was “‘crawling’” with bugs and “‘covered with bites’” during a ten-hour transatlantic flight from Los Angeles to London Heathrow in January.

Miss Selkirk, who works for internet company Yahoo!’s media group, said she set up her protest website “‘after two horrendous flights’”.

She used the site – www.ba-bites.com – to post graphic pictures of the injuries on her body.

source: iol.co.za

The UK threatened to pull out of the trans-Atlantic Open Skies air travel agreement if the US government did not approve British Airways’ alliance with American Airlines, according to leaked cables revealed via WikiLeaks.

A British official also warned that Spain might see progress on extending the Open Skies agreement as “‘closely linked’” with the BA/AA alliance, which also includes Spanish flag carrier Iberia.

The warnings centred on discussions around the second stage of the Open Skies agreement, which involved relaxing restrictions on ownership of US airlines and on European carriers’ rights to fly within the US.

source: telegraph.co.uk

A 7.4%’ ‘rise in premium passengers helped boost the British Airways-Iberia holding company International Airlines Group (IAG) last month.

The first results issued since the merger between the two airlines showed a strong level of long-haul traffic. IAG said that the good level of premium traffic growth was partly due to weak year-on-year comparatives due to snow in January 2010.

source: travelweekly.co.uk

Business and leisure travellers in over 75 countries can now pay for their British Airways flights, with PayPal at ba.com. PayPal offers a fast and secure way to pay online as well as protecting consumers’ sensitive information.

PayPal has over 26 million accounts in the UK, which represents two in every three British internet shoppers.

source: freshbusinessthinking.com

British Airways’ new parent company International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) enjoyed a quiet opening day’s trading on the stock markets of London and the linked exchanges of Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia on Monday.

Shares in IAG opened in the City at a price of 288.1p and closed at 287.19p after touching 289p. IAG shares in Spain finished the day at €3.31, broadly in line with the London price allowing for the exchange rate.

IAG chief executive Willie Walsh and chairman Antonio Vazquez were at the London Stock Exchange to watch trading open. Walsh said: “I’AG has a great future ahead of it. BA and Iberia are the first two airlines in IAG, but they won’t be the last. Today is the first step towards creating a multinational multi-brand airline group.’”

source: travelweekly.co.uk

Cabin crew at British Airways on Friday voted to strike again as the two-year battle between the airline and its staff continues.

However, the Unite union, which represents cabin crew, fell short of announcing strike dates as it looks to downplay the move because public sympathy is waning. The lack of certainty of when industrial action could take place could dent overall bookings with the airline.

The news comes on the day that British Airways completes its merger with Spain’s Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA. Shares in both companies were suspended Friday, and the merged entity, International Consolidated Airlines Group SA, will begin trading in London and Madrid Monday.

source: The Wall Street Journal

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia are adding more codeshare flights to their trans-Atlantic joint business.

The three airlines teamed up in October to cooperate on trans-Atlantic services without violating U.S. foreign ownership laws. BA combined with Iberia this year to create Europe’s third-largest airline.

Under codeshare agreements, carriers can sell tickets on each other’s flights and frequent flyers can claim points. Airlines say codesharing lets passengers shop around for cheaper fares.

source: Bloomberg

British Airways‘ top executives are poised to receive hefty pay rises once the airline’s planned merger with Iberia is finalised.

Willie Walsh, chief executive, will see his base pay rise from £735,000 to £825,000 ($1.3m) a year, according to merger documents released as part of the deal, which will be voted on by shareholders in each airline on November 29.

Mr Walsh is to leave BA to become chief executive of the new International Airlines Group holding company, which will own BA and Iberia

source: FT.com

British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia have launched their long-awaited transatlantic tie-up by adding four new routes to their combined network and pledging to create jobs and cut fares.

The revenue-sharing deal, dismissed as a “‘monster monopoly'” by Virgin Atlantic founder Sir Richard Branson, will give passengers access to a joint network serving 433 destinations in 105 countries.

source: telegraph.co.uk