Warning British Airways is in dire straits

British Airways (BA) has told staff its parent firm is burning through £178m of cash a week and the airline does not have “an absolute right to exist” as a row with unions intensifies.

In a letter to staff seen by Sky News, BA chief executive Alex Cruz rounds on the GMB and Unite unions, calling a campaign to take Heathrow landing slots away from BA “bizarre” and a threat to jobs.

He criticises the government for damaging the industry though the introduction of a 14-day quarantine period from Tuesday as the coronavirus pandemic eases.

The letter to staff, sent after the Home Secretary unveiled the plans yesterday afternoon, says “the government has dealt another blow to our industry with the introduction of a travel quarantine for those arriving into the UK”.

“Despite our best efforts the amount of flying we will be doing this summer will be limited and fiercely competed.”

Mr Cruz saves his strongest criticism for unions though – rounding on the GMB and Unite over a refusal to attend talks in the wake of the airline’s decision to cut 12,000 jobs.

“I want to save as many jobs as possible. BA does not have an absolute right to exist. There are major competitors poised and ready to take our business.”

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