Travellers’ discontent with BA is reaching sky-high levels

For business travellers, BA's dismal financial results are likely to come a distant second behind the news that another round of strikes by cabin crew will take place next week.

It is the latest in a series of setbacks which has strained even the most loyal flyer's relations with the airline.

For years travellers tolerated cramped conditions in Heathrow Terminal 4 (and Terminal 1 and Terminal 3) with the promise that the new Terminal 5 would solve all problems, only for the launch to be badly botched.

Apologies all round, and six months later it was working well, but by then more problems were on the horizon.

In the past five years British Airways franchise BMed was sold to bmi, BA Connect (domestic and European flights) was sold to Flybe and GB Airways went to easyjet.

All these disposals made financial sense to BA, but less sense to passengers wanting to use the airline, so when easyJet and Ryanair overtook BA in terms of passenger numbers, it was seen as a symptom of a greater malaise.

Throw in having to pay for seat selection along with reductions in catering, and discontent was audible.

BA once termed itself the world's favourite airline. Right now flyers would settle for it being the UK's.

Tom Otley is editor of Business Traveller