Aviation

British Airways Appeal on Controversial ‘Fire and Rehire’ Policy Dismissed

Experience the Luxury: British Airways Airbus A320neo Tour

British Airways (BA) has faced a significant setback in its legal battle over its controversial ‘fire and rehire’ strategy implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The airline’s appeal against an Employment Tribunal ruling has been dismissed, upholding the Tribunal’s decision that the Equality Act 2010 extends to cases of ‘indirect associative discrimination.’

The case was brought by 38 former cabin crew members who challenged BA’s practice of dismissing employees before re-employing them under new and often less favorable terms. The Employment Tribunal’s ruling from December 2022 had established that the Equality Act 2010 should be interpreted to protect against indirect associative discrimination, including in cases of sex and race discrimination.

BA Launches Fully-Funded Pilot Training Program for 60 Applicants:Click here

In a recent two-day hearing, British Airways argued against this interpretation, seeking to overturn the Tribunal’s decision. Key testimonies included those from Women and Equalities Minister Bridget Phillipson and the Human Rights Commission, who supported the view that the Equality Act’s protections should apply broadly, including to both male and female home carers.

Court documents released yesterday confirm that the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) has rejected BA’s appeal. This ruling reinforces the application of Section 19A of the Equality Act 2010, which was introduced to align UK law with established EU protections against indirect discrimination by association. This section eliminates the need for claimants to rely on EU law and supports the Tribunal’s interpretation of the Equality Act.

A British Airways spokesperson commented, “This appeal was about seeking the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s direction on a narrow and technical area of law. We note the decision of the Tribunal and will carefully review its judgment before considering next steps.

Is It Worth It to Choose British Airways Premium Economy?:Click here
The ongoing legal proceedings involve a substantial claim for damages amounting to up to £515 million from former Heathrow-based cabin crew. These employees were among the 12,000 BA staff affected by the ‘fire and rehire’ strategy in 2020, british airways cadet which included changes to their employment contracts, reduced pay, and altered terms and conditions.

Notably, the airline also terminated its crew ‘Scheduling Agreement,’ which had previously guaranteed time off between flights, and introduced new standby requirements.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

British Airways Unveils Its Brand-New First Class Cabin for the Airbus A380

This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

Etihad Airways Unveils 10 Exciting New Routes for 2025

In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.