The keenly awaited appearance of British Airways Chairman and Chief Executive Alex Cruz before the House of Commons Transport Select Committee was highlighted by his instance that Air Passenger Duty (APD) should be removed.

Chairman Huw Merriman and his members for the most part took a far less aggressive stance against Cruz, than when now departed IAG CEO Willie Walsh appeared before the Committee in July.  Merriman noted that Walsh was in the past, a point that Cruz chose to ignore.  

Speaking from his Waterside office Mr Cruz reiterated his views made in the Daily Telegraph suggesting that a travel corridor be opened up between London and New York, the world’s busiest long-haul air bridge and followed up John Holland-Kaye’s comments of passenger testing. “The airport is ready”.

APD also came in for criticism from Mr Cruz. Huw Merriman pointed out that his Committee had recommended a holiday with this tax.

“What is wrong today is that APD is disabling regional travel. The fact that today more taxes are being paid on a return flight to Glasgow or Edinburgh or Aberdeen or Manchester versus a return flight to Rome or Paris, it’s something that should not be accepted. We need to find ways to stimulate travel.”

Asked about Gatwick, currently vacated by British Airways, he said no decision had been made.  Subsequently BA announced the cancellation of the winter programme.  See www.btnews.co.uk/article/16662

Mr Cruz told MPs that the pandemic had "devastated our business... and we're still fighting for our own survival."

Last week the airline flew about 187,000 passengers – about 25%-30% of its normal flight schedule.

"Everyone is facing decisions we never wanted to face," Mr Cruz said.

He said he had taken a 33% pay cut during the pandemic, reducing his salary from the £805,000 he earned in 2019.

www.ba.com

https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/153/transport-committee