BA chief gets pay rise and new bonus target

British Airways’ under-fire chief executive Willie Walsh is to get a £35,000 (€44,000) pay rise and has seen his bonus target changed to focus more on customer service, it emerged today.

Mr Walsh announced last month that he would forgo his 2007/08 bonus after the airline’s Terminal 5 fiasco, despite unveiling record full-year profits.

However, the airline’s annual report today shows that Mr Walsh will see his £700,000 (€881,000) basic salary increased to £735,000 (€925,000) next month, while he could also pick up a bigger bonus in this financial year worth up to 150% of salary.

But the bonus targets will be more dependent on customer service and satisfaction as it seeks to rebuild its reputation in the wake of the disastrous T5 opening.

Dozens of flights were delayed and cancelled and thousands of passengers separated from their bags in the troubled move to the new building in March.