BA opposes Tube plan

Ken Livingstone's plan to run the Tube an hour later on Friday and Saturday nights today received a major setback.

British Airways, the biggest single employer to be directly affected by the scheme, has come out firmly against the idea.

Tube chiefs say the network would have to reopen an hour later on Saturday and Sunday mornings to allow engineering work.

But that, BA says, would cause problems for thousands of shift workers and travellers, forcing them into cars or taxis, or even preventing completion of their journeys-This is "unfortunate", a spokeswoman said, at a time when passengers and staff are being urged to use public transport.

BA is to lodge a formal objection to the proposed change. It is also advising staff to write to London Underground on their own account.

Airport owner BAA is also advising its 4,000 employees to write to LU. "The change of hours will have an impact on both passengers and staff," a spokesman said, pointing out that first flights to the Continent leave at about 6am on Saturdays and just before 7am on Sundays.

The Tube now opens at about

5.30am on Saturdays and 7am on Sundays. The changes would mean on Sundays the first trains would not start arriving in central London until about 8.30am.

More than 70,000 people, mostly shift workers, are employed at Heathrow. The Mayor has admitted later running could " inconvenience some people".

It is estimated that about 55,000 people use the Tube during the first hour at weekends.