British Airways dispute clashed again as the airline posted record annual losses of £531 million.
Chief executive Willie Walsh accused the cabin crew union of being “out of touch with reality” as he finalised plans to cope with a fresh wave of strikes from Monday.
Unite countered that there was an atmosphere of “intimidation and fear” at the company as a result of the long-running row over cost-cutting.
British Airways has been battered by the recession, a harsh winter and seven days of strikes by cabin crew in March, although its slide into the red was slightly less than the £600 million feared.
The airline’s total losses for the past two years soared to £932 million after a £401 million reverse the previous year. The airline also reported that revenues plunged by £1 billion, although this was offset by falling fuel costs as well as savings elsewhere in the business.
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