The recession has grounded millions of airline passengers, the Civil Aviation Authority said today, with figures showing a 13% drop in the number of people using UK airports. Transatlantic travel is the biggest victim of the downturn, with numbers falling by 15% as the near-collapse of the banking industry hit traffic and the weak pound deterred tourists. The British aviation watchdog said domestic travel also suffered, falling by 8.7%. The largest market, from the UK to mainland Europe, fell by 7.3%, although it still accounts for more than half of all air journeys in the UK thanks to the enduring strength of the low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet. But the economic downturn has improved punctuality and helped ease overcrowding at Britain's airports, which had previously earned worldwide notoriety for their packed departure lounges. The first quarter of 2009 saw 6.4 million fewer passengers use UK airports than during the same period in 2008, according to the CAA, with the number of flights dropping by 50,000.
Transatlantic travel is the biggest victim of the downturn, with numbers falling by 15% as the near-collapse of the banking industry hit traffic and the weak pound deterred tourists.
The British aviation watchdog said domestic travel also suffered, falling by 8.7%.
The largest market, from the UK to mainland Europe, fell by 7.3%, although it still accounts for more than half of all air journeys in the UK thanks to the enduring strength of the low-cost carriers Ryanair and easyJet.
But the economic downturn has improved punctuality and helped ease overcrowding at Britain's airports, which had previously earned worldwide notoriety for their packed departure lounges.
The first quarter of 2009 saw 6.4 million fewer passengers use UK airports than during the same period in 2008, according to the CAA, with the number of flights dropping by 50,000.
British Airways is asking thousands of staff to work for nothing, for up to one month, to help the airline survive. The appeal, sent by e-mail to more than 30,000 workers in the UK, asks them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work. BA's chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000. Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m, partly due to higher fuel bills and other costs.
The appeal, sent by e-mail to more than 30,000 workers in the UK, asks them to volunteer for between one week and one month's unpaid leave, or unpaid work.
BA's chief executive Willie Walsh has already agreed to work unpaid in July, forgoing his month's salary of £61,000.
Last month, BA posted a record annual loss of £401m, partly due to higher fuel bills and other costs.
If there is not work to do and they work in Wales they can tap into Welsh Assembly short time working arrangements and receive training. But England haven't caught up with that yet. Ad astra per aspera
Union officials responded to a cost-saving offer from British Airways for staff to take unpaid leave by insisting today that their members cannot afford to work for free. Chief executive Willie Walsh, who has already announced he will not draw his salary in July, announced that staff will be able to opt for one-week blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months. BA said: "This will help minimise the financial impact on individuals, while helping to immediately save cash for the business. "The new unpaid work option means people can contribute to the cash-saving effort by coming to work while effectively volunteering for a small cut in base pay."
Chief executive Willie Walsh, who has already announced he will not draw his salary in July, announced that staff will be able to opt for one-week blocks of unpaid leave or unpaid work, with salary deductions spread over three to six months.
BA said: "This will help minimise the financial impact on individuals, while helping to immediately save cash for the business.
"The new unpaid work option means people can contribute to the cash-saving effort by coming to work while effectively volunteering for a small cut in base pay."
A spokesman for Unite said: "Willie Walsh can afford to work a month for free. Our members can't."
