BA: Emergency funding 'puts to bed' risk concerns

Embattled airline British Airways today said a £600m (€693m) emergency cash funding “puts to bed” concerns over its future.

The move included the removal of £330m (€381m) in funds from its pension fund, which had been set aside for the pension scheme to use if the company became insolvent.

BA, which also said it expected to report operating losses of about £100m (€115m) for the quarter to June 30, said it planned to raise another £300m (€346m) through a debt issue.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said the move “puts to bed any suggestions that British Airways is in any sort of risk”.

“We are clearly in a very strong position relative to most airlines,” he added.

“However, trading conditions are difficult and that is a situation that the industry must address. I think British Airways is taking all the right actions.”

The airline lost a record £401m (€463m) in the year to March and Mr Walsh has previously told staff that the firm is in a “fight for survival”.

The company paid out nearly £3bn (€3.46bn) in fuel costs last year due to rising oil prices, while recession has also hit demand for flights.

Mr Walsh wants to cut 3,700 jobs, freeze pay for up to two years and has asked staff to volunteer to work unpaid for up to a month.

Today he said: “This goes hand in hand with our cost reduction and efficiency initiatives which are designed to create the right conditions for our sustainable, long-term profitability.”

BA said the deal it had struck with the trustees of its UK defined benefit pension schemes undid the provisions arranged in 2006 which would have provided a buffer had the company gone bust.

Mr Walsh said the trustees would instead benefit from a stronger airline.

In a statement today the trustees said: “This will allow BA to use the financing facility that underpins the current guarantees to improve its liquidity position.

“The trustees are advised and are satisfied that this measure taken together with other corporate activities and initiatives will serve to improve the financial position and prospects of the company with a view to meeting its obligations to the scheme.”

The pension funds said £230m (€265m) of the existing guarantees would be replaced by other security.

BA can draw money from the facilities at any time before June 21, 2012.

It said today’s funding moves were expected to add £600m (€693m) of further liquidity to the airline, giving a total of about £2bn (€2.31bn).

The airline has already obtained facilities of more than $3bn (€2.12bn) for future aircraft deliveries.

Its debt issue will involve creating bonds that can later be converted into shares.

BA also said today that its first quarter results were expected to show revenues of approximately £1.98bn (€2.28bn).

It said its operating loss for the period was “slightly better than market expectation”.

BA shares rose up to 5% at one point today.