British Airways profits despite soaring fuel bill

BRITISH AIRWAYS posted strong quarterly profits yesterday but warned its annual fuel bill was likely to be £75 million (€108 million) more than previously thought.

It was good news for incoming chief executive Willie Walsh, but the company blamed the stronger US dollar for driving fuel costs up by around £525 million compared with the previous year.

The warning comes just a month after BA raised the surcharge on its long-haul flights by £8 to £24 to cover fuel costs.