Latest news with #BritishAirways'
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
British Airways bans crew from taking selfies, making TikTok videos; effective immediately the new guidelines say: You may be fired if ...
Representative image British Airways has introduced a stringent new policy prohibiting its flight attendants and pilots from sharing photos or videos taken at layover hotels, sparking debate among crew members and industry observers. The policy, detailed in a report by View From the Wing, extends to images captured inside hotel rooms, lobbies, parking lots, or even nearby outdoor areas like pools or beaches. Crew members have been instructed to scrub their social media accounts—private or public—of any such content, with non-compliance potentially leading to termination. According to the new guidelines, crew members are also required to go over their feeds with a fine-toothed comb and delete every trace of prior layover hotel-related content — even the stuff set to 'private' — or risk getting fired. The airline's security team has cited safety risks as the driving force behind the policy. Advanced image analysis tools can reportedly extract subtle background details—such as parking lot signage, pool tiling patterns, or window shapes -- to pinpoint a hotel's location. British Airways argues that such information could be exploited, potentially compromising crew safety during layovers. The ban covers a wide range of content, including 'get ready with me' TikToks filmed in hotel bathrooms, uniform selfies in corridors, poolside photos, and group shots in hotel bars or restaurants. While British Airways has not confirmed whether a specific incident triggered the policy, the timing raises questions. Just weeks ago, a British Airways flight attendant was found dead at a layover hotel in San Francisco, an event that has drawn attention within the industry, though no official link to the policy has been established. This move follows British Airways' 2023 update to its social media guidelines, which already restricted employees from posting content showing them 'professionally engaged' in their roles. The new rules, however, go further, effectively limiting crew members' ability to share personal moments from their travels, even on private accounts. The policy has sparked mixed reactions. Some industry experts argue it's a prudent step in an era of sophisticated digital tracking, while others see it as an excessive restriction on personal freedom. 'Crew members rely on social media to connect with friends and followers, often sharing the glamour of their jet-setting lives,' said aviation analyst Sarah Collins. 'This blanket ban could impact morale and even recruitment, as social media presence is a draw for younger crew members.' British Airways has not publicly commented on the policy beyond internal communications to staff. The airline's focus on security aligns with broader industry trends, as carriers increasingly grapple with privacy and safety challenges in the digital age. For now, crew members are left to comply or face serious consequences, reshaping how they share their lives on the road. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British Airways says its short-haul business class is booming. Here's why that could be a boost for US budget airlines.
British Airways' CEO said Club Europe sales have "defied our best expectations." The premium cabin has the same seats as economy, but with the middle one blocked off. Spirit Airlines is introducing a similar product as fliers are more interested in upgrades globally. European-style business class isn't the most luxurious, but its popularity has reached new heights at British Airways. British Airways CEO Sean Doyle said sales in its Club Europe class have "defied our best expectations," The Times of London reported on Tuesday. While legacy US airlines offer comfier seats and more legroom on all their aircraft, most European carriers have a much simpler premium product on their narrow-body planes. In the typical 3-3 layout, business class simply has a divider placed on the middle seat. A curtain separating it from the economy cabin can be moved down the aisle depending on capacity. "After the global financial crisis in 2008, people were saying it wouldn't work," Doyle reportedly said at the International Air Transport Association conference. "And yet it's more popular than ever, especially for leisure passengers." He pointed to perks like lounge access, priority boarding, and better food-and-drink options. "There is really important value in short-haul premium for customers, and we are seeing that come through in the numbers," Doyle added, per The Times. The fact that the hard product — the seat itself — is so similar to traveling in economy means some Europeans don't see the value compared to flying with a budget airline like easyJet or Ryanair. However, premium options have been in more demand around the world since the pandemic. That's strained budget airlines, especially in the US. They've been rolling out upgraded offerings in an attempt to attract more customers as their preferences have changed. For example, Doyle's comments could be particularly welcomed by Spirit Airlines. Last July, it announced a "Go Comfy" option that would include a blocked middle seat in the same style as British Airways' Club Europe. However, unlike the London-based carrier, "Go Comfy" seats will also have four inches of extra legroom. Southwest Airlines has also announced premium options, scrapping its signature unassigned-seating policy to encourage passengers to pay for extra legroom. At the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference last week, CEO Bob Jordan said customers want different cabins, a variety of offerings, and "access to premium." Doyle's comments suggest that the American budget airlines are on the right path. Even if their offerings aren't as opulent as Delta Air Lines or United Airlines, passengers simply care more about the experience of flying in a premium class. Read the original article on Business Insider Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why more than 50,000 passengers have booked on 'flights to nowhere' from UK airports like Heathrow and Gatwick
Nervous Londoners have been invited to take a 'flight to nowhere' from Heathrow Airport in a bid to cure their fears of flying. More than 50,000 people have booked onto British Airways' Flying with Confidence Course since 1986 to try and overcome their fear of flying, the airline has revealed. See also: I'm a travel writer who had a fear of flying — here's how I overcame it The one-day course, which costs £399 and next takes place on June 28, has a 98% success rate and has been designed by pilots and cabin crew to help frightened passengers. Speaking to the Independent last year, the programme's director, Captain Steve Allright, explained: 'When they come off the aeroplane at the end of the day, there's tears of emotion. 'You hear things like, 'I'm a changed woman – thank you so much, I can go and visit my grandchildren in Australia'. 'All the research shows that one in four people has some kind of fear of flying, and one in 12 has significant difficulties. So there are literally millions of people around the world that have this fear.' During the event British Airways pilots give a presentation about how an aircraft flies and operates, particularly focusing on turbulence and flight safety. A psychologist also speaks to soon-to-be passengers to help them cope with their fears and how best to deal with anxiety and feelings of panic. The day finishes with a 45-minute flight returning to the same airport as take-off, and passengers are accompanied by a team of pilots, cabin crew and psychologists. Events take place at Heathrow and Gatwick as well as locations across the UK, including Manchester, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Asia Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
US-UK tips on how Koreans, others must approach Trump trade talks
On May 8, President Donald Trump announced the first bilateral trade deal since unveiling the so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs on April 2. The agreement with the United Kingdom, labeled as an 'economic prosperity deal' rather than a free trade agreement (FTA), portends what future trade deals may look like, particularly for close allies and trading partners like South Korea. Notably, the 10 percent baseline tariff remains in place, meaning there is likely no reprieve for other negotiating partners. The UK government made concessions that the United States felt were good enough to reach an alternative arrangement for Section 232 tariffs on autos and steel, although the United Kingdom was not targeted by the reciprocal tariffs announced on April 2. The two countries also agreed to a quota system of 10 percent baseline tariffs and 25 percent thereafter for the first 100,000 UK vehicles sent to the United States. For steel, along with a commitment to continue negotiations, the deal advertises the creation of a trading union for aluminum and steel between the two countries, whereby the United States would 'promptly construct a quota at most favored nation (MFN) rates for UK steel and aluminum' with a given that the United Kingdom 'meet US requirements on the security of the supply chains of steel and aluminum products.' This could have subsequent implications for Korean steel, as there are now alternative arrangements taking place for the 232 tariffs under which Korean steel exports to the United States now apply. A notable omission from the US-UK deal is any mention of service industry tariffs, including on US films produced overseas, which President Trump has indicated he would target. At the signing ceremony for the US-UK trade deal on May 8, he suggested such issues could be handled separately. In 2024, US studios spent around $2.8 billion to film movies in the United Kingdom, including blockbuster films Wicked and Barbie . Taxing this investment with tariffs could become a substantial issue between the United States and other countries if fully pursued by the Trump administration. No deal would be complete without substantial investment commitments. Within a day of the agreement, British Airways' parent company announced the purchase of roughly $13 billion worth of Boeing aircraft – a development that was teased by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick in the original announcement. At the press conference announcing the trade deal, Lutnick indicated that the United States had 'agreed to let Rolls-Royce engines and those kind of plane parts to come over tariff-free,' although the intricacies of such an arrangement did not appear in the official text of the agreement. Beyond these items, the agreement does not mention Britain's future status under AI export controls or access to chips – the Joe Biden administration's 'AI diffusion rule' guaranteeing the country's tier-one status was rescinded shortly after the talks – nor did US companies offer any chip or AI concessions in tandem. This stands in contrast to Trump's recent inroads in the Middle East, where he received major concessions at the same time as business deals for countries to access high-level US semiconductor technologies. These agreements may mean that control over access to AI technologies and advanced chips will be a critical part of the canvas as the president creates new deals. President Trump came away from the deal with market expansion for US agricultural products in the United Kingdom – including $700 million for ethanol exports – along with alignment on labor, intellectual property and environmental standards and commitments for supply chains on pharmaceuticals. Perhaps one of the most significant implications for a US-Korea deal is the United Kingdom granting the United States an exemption on its 20% tariff on beef imports, replacing it with a quota system for US imports of the item. This is an important development for Korea's negotiating posture, where the country maintains restrictions on the import of US beef jerky products and beef under thirty months of age. Along these lines, UK regulations around antibiotics and chemicals remain in force. Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified that UK food standards would not be eliminated, signaling chlorinated chicken and hormone-treated beef will likely still be ineligible for export. The countries also agreed to collaborate on digital trade, meaning that US-Korea digital platform issues could be on Korea's docket for further negotiations. The ins and outs of the UK deal mean a few things for whoever is queued up next. First, no purchase commitments seem to be enough to repeal the 10% baseline tariff. This is a minimum levy that could remain against other countries for the foreseeable future. It is worth noting that, unlike South Korea, the United Kingdom does not face 'reciprocal tariffs.' Therefore, the trade deal provides limited insights as to how U.S. tariffs could be lowered from 25% toward the 10% baseline levels. Second, a deal almost certainly means high-profile company investments are a negotiating tool for tariff concessions. There is a certain magic in the theatrics around this – the United Kingdom's deal was done in the Oval Office, with the ambassador in front of the cameras. For a deal to be made, attention will be paid to high-level publicity and visible leader deference. It also remains to be seen if massive investments announced prior to negotiation days – such as Hyundai's $21 billion countrywide investment announcement from March or possible involvement in the Alaska LNG pipeline – will be considered as part of a trade package, or if deals will need to be made day of. Last, the UK deal entailed some liberally framed commitments set to be resolved at a later date. One clause included a pledge for both countries to continue 'to identify' areas of opportunity for trade relations. The United States and the United Kingdom did not go into the agreement with any preexisting FTA. The agreement allows either country to terminate the agreement with written notice. This makes the deal a different commitment than the US-Korea FTA (KORUS FTA), which requires 180 days' notice for termination, and moreover, does not appear to be legally binding. Nomenclature is important. Since this is an 'economic prosperity deal,' movement toward any type of post-Brexit FTA would likely require further negotiation. In South Korea's case, the extent to which a deal could abrogate or change the KORUS FTA was not indicated by the deal made with the United Kingdom on May 8. Still, the declaration of a British trade deal means that things are starting to move forward, and that Liberation Day may not be the end all be all. Tom Ramage is an economic policy analyst at the Korea Economic Institute of America , which originally published this article on its newsletter The Peninsula. The article is republished with permission.
Powys County Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
British Airways owner IAG buys 32 new Boeing planes from US amid trade deal
British Airways' parent company has bought 32 new Boeing planes from the US, following the country's trade agreement with the UK on Thursday. International Airlines Group (IAG) confirmed the order of the Boeing 787-10 aircraft for its BA fleet, alongside 21 Airbus planes for its other airlines on Friday morning. The US and the UK said they had struck what Sir Keir Starmer called a 'historic' deal on Thursday, which saw American import taxes on British goods like cars and steel either slashed or removed completely. US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said on Thursday that plane engines and other aeroplane parts would also be excluded from trade tariffs as part of the trade deal. 'We've agreed to let Rolls Royce engines and those kind of plane parts come over tariff-free,' he said. He told reporters that an unnamed British airline had agreed to buy 10 billion US dollars (£7.56 billion) of Boeing planes as the trade deal was agreed. IAG did not confirm how much it had paid for the planes in its Friday announcement. Chief executive Luis Gallego said the order was a 'milestone' for the conglomerate and would 'strengthen our core markets' over the next decade.
