British Airways to pay 20,000 pilots and crew a goodwill bonus

British Airways has offered 20,000 pilots and crew a one-off bonus as it attempts to rebuild relations with staff.

The carrier, owned by FTSE 100 firm IAG, has proposed to trade unions a 10 per cent bonus for employees including ground staff, cabin crew, engineers, call centre workers and administration staff.

Pilots have been offered a 5 per cent bonus in discussions with their own union, Balpa.

Unions will have until the end of the month to respond to the company’s offer.

‘This proposal is a gesture of thanks for colleagues’ hard work during the pandemic,’ a BA spokesman said.

It previously paid bonuses when it hit targets or certain profit levels, but the pandemic means there have been none for several years.

BA boss Sean Doyle, who took over in 2020, is trying to repair its relationship with staff and increase morale in an industry battered by Covid.

The carrier laid off around 10,000 workers when the pandemic struck and plunged to a £3.9billion loss in 2020 as travel restrictions and lockdown measures meant demand almost completely dried up.