BRITISH Airways is to cut an extra 1,200 jobs, taking the total reduction to 4,900 by next year, it was revealed today.
Most of the new losses will be overseas and follows a high response from staff wanting to work part-time or take voluntary redundancy, the airline said.
The new job cut figure was released as BA announced a record pre-tax loss of £292m for the six
months to the end of September.
The airline, which recorded a loss of £401m in its previous financial year, said total revenues slumped by almost 14 per cent in the period.
It is the first time BA has recorded a first half loss - normally a buoyant period for the airline as it includes the holiday season.
The deficit is around £40m higher than City analysts had been expecting. Even when items such as pension costs are excluded BA made a loss of £111m, against a profit of £140m a year earlier.
BA had previously announced plans to cut its workforce by 3,700 by next March, including around 2,000 cabin crew, 1,000 check-in and other customer facing staff and the rest made up of managers, pilots and admin workers.
Around 1,900 jobs have been lost this year, so a further 3,000 will go by next March.
The industry as a whole is expected to lose £6.65bn this year as a result of the recession's impact on passenger numbers and demand for business class travel.
Willie Walsh, chief executive, said the company reduced costs by some £400m after manpower was cut by 1,900 roles through reduced overtime, increased part-time working and voluntary redundancy.
The industry as a whole is expected to lose £6.65bn this year as a result of the recession's impact on passenger numbers and demand for business class travel.
Willie Walsh, chief executive, said the company reduced costs by some £400m after manpower was cut by 1,900 roles through reduced overtime, increased part-time working and voluntary redundancy.
"With revenue likely to be £1bn lower this year, we can't stand still and further cost reduction is essential," he said.
He said a further manpower reduction equivalent to 3,000 roles was planned by March next year, along with a 6 per cent cut in winter capacity.
BA is locked in a fight with unions over its plans for job cuts and a pay freeze and has faced the threat of industrial action from different sections of its workforce.
Unite launched legal action in the High Court yesterday in a bid to stop the imposition of new contracts for new cabin crew. It has agreed to work to the new schedule until the outcome of the legal action is known.
