British Airways boss Willie Walsh turned down a bonus worth more than £330,000 in the last financial year.
Walsh turned down £330,000 bonus
British Airways boss Willie Walsh turned down a bonus worth more than £330,000 in the last financial year.
The airline’s 2009-10 annual report discloses that chief executive Walsh “felt it appropriate” to decline his award due to the “circumstances prevailing” at the time.
Walsh, embroiled in a long-running dispute with cabin crew over pay and working conditions, earns a base salary of £735,000.
BA reported increased losses of £531 million in the year to March, compared with a loss of £401 million the year earlier.
Discussing the row with cabin crew union Unite, Walsh says in the annual report: “I regret we found ourselves at loggerheads with very valued members of staff at a critical time.”
He adds: “I genuinely believe it is unfair to say we looked for confrontation. Our position is clear. We’ve done some excellent work with the unions over the years and we are happy to work with them. But we can’t let them stand in the way of the progress that’s needed to make our airline’s future more secure.”
His comments in the annual report come a day after Unite threatened a further ballot of members for further strike action during the summer peak travel period.
