Meridian British Airways News

Mr Walsh went on: "The Gatwick proposals, which will result in a significant increase in charges, are completely unjustifiable, totally unacceptable and directly contravene the CAA's new remit to represent customers' interests.

"The CAA must not be allowed to fail again. In line with its new remit, (CAA chairman) Dame Deirdre Hutton and the CAA board should protect customers and ensure that they get a better deal.

"We will make strong representations to Dame Deirdre and the board to reconsider this proposal."

• UK
• Willie Walsh
• British Airways

The food service firm Baxter-Storey which is based in Reading, Leeds and Edinburgh has been awarded a second major contract with British Airways. The firm will provide dining and hospitality for thousands of employees at the airline's offices at Heathrow and Manchester.

• UK
• British Airways
• Baxter-Storey

British Airways is to buy an extra 18 Dreamliner planes with a major boost to the local economy.

The deal is thought to be worth more than £3bn. Many parts for the Boeing 787 are made in the South and shipped to America where the plane is assembled.

The news has just been announced by BA parent company International Airlines Group. British Airways 787s will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. The engine order includes a comprehensive maintenance package with total care agreement.

• Business
• British Airways
• Heathrow

Responding to the publication of Heathrow Airport’s future investment plans and charges for the period 2014 to 2019, Virgin Atlantic Chief Operating Officer Steve Griffiths said:

Virgin Atlantic is totally committed to improving the passenger experience at Heathrow. However, we believe this can be done without a repeat of the incredibly steep price rises we have seen in airport charges in the last few years. Prices at Heathrow are triple the level they were ten years ago. Clearly this is a concern for all passengers travelling through Heathrow, and all airlines operating there.

• UK
• Virgin Atlantic
• British Airways

VIDEO: Two British Airways pilots have died within weeks of each other - their families are blaming exposure to aircraft fumes in the cockpit. Richard Westgate and Karen Lysakowska suffered years of ill health. BA says there is no evidence to support the claims. Malcolm Shaw reports.

• Health
• British Airways

Richard Westgate lived for flying. But the British Airways pilot from Dorset died in December after suffering years of chronic fatigue, mood swings and then a fall. Then another BA pilot, Karen Lysakowska from Surrey, died after developing cancer.

Both were in their early forties, and believed they'd been repeatedly exposed to toxic fumes in the cockpits of the planes they flew. The air supply comes from a bleed pipe off the jet engine. More on this story shortly.

• Health
• British Airways

British Airways has confirmed that 400 cabin crew based at Heathrow will lose jobs. The airline say they will be staff in senior roles. The jobs are expected to go in the Spring of next year.

The news follows a decision by BA parent company IAG (International Airlines Group) to cut 4,500 jobs at loss making Iberia.

We are offering voluntary redundancy to some members of our senior cabin crew to help address an imbalance in our crew numbers. Based on the feedback from our senior cabin crew in the past few months, we believe that there will be good demand for this opportunity. We have now begun a 90 day consultation with Unite about the issues.

• UK
• British Airways
• heathrow

An inquest will be held later into the death of a retired British Airways pilot, who was hailed a hero for avoiding homes when his light aircraft crashed in West Sussex.

62-year-old Alan Weal steered his plane away from residential areas after it was involved in a mid-air collision with another aircraft near Shoreham Airport in July.

The other plane landed safely and its two crew members were treated for shock.

• UK
• British Airways
• Shoreham