BA loss not as bad as first feared

British Airways has reavealed it recorded a pre-tax loss of £50m ($79m) in the three months leading up to December 2009. Which in contrast to the £122m it lost in the same period in 2008 is a lot better than most experts had predicted. Though overall BA recorded a loss of £342m in the nine months to December which rose up from £70m in the same period in 2008.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh accredited cost cutting measures accross the company had improved finances for the last three months up to December in which analysts had predicted losses of up to £151m

Mr Walsh stated "We still expect to make record losses this year. Permanent structural change is being introduced in all areas and will return us to sustained profitability"

These improved figures aside BA's main issue at the moment is its own workers, the airline avoided strike action over the Christmas and New Year period after winning a high court battle and having the proposed strike overturned on the grounds of a void ballot.

But Unite is re-balloting its 12,000 cabin crew members, with the result due on 22 February, Unite has urged BA to settle arguments with its cabin crew to stop the proposed strike and end the unnessercery damage to its brand