MADRID, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - The tie-up between British Airways and Spanish national carrier Iberia will take longer than expected due to the downturn in the aviation sector, BA president Willie Walsh said in an interview published Monday.

WASHINGTON, Sept 30, 2008 (AFP) - A former executive in British Airways' cargo business has agreed to plead guilty to price-fixing in the US and will serve eight months in jail and pay a fine of 20,000 dollars (14,000 euros), the US government said Tuesday.

LONDON, September 12, 2008 (AFP) - Virgin boss Richard Branson vowed Friday to 'wage a major battle' to block a proposed merger between his competitors British Airways and American Airlines.

Launching a campaign against the deal, Branson said a tie-up between BA and AA would lead to price-fixing and force travel agents to put business their way.

BRUSSELS, August 29, 2008 (AFP) - The European Commission launched an anti-trust probe on Friday into a recent agreement between American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia to cooperate on transatlantic flights.

'The commission has opened an own-initiative investigation under EU antitrust rules into the intended cooperation agreement between BA, Iberia and AA,' a statement said.

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia of Spain said Thursday they had signed a commercial ...

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia of Spain said Thursday they had signed an agreement ...

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia of Spain said on Thursday they had signed an ...

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia of Spain announced in a joint statement on Thursday ...

Virgin Atlantic boss Richard Branson has written to US presidential candidates Barack Obama and ...

LONDON, August 1, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways, currently in merger talks with Spanish airline Iberia, said Friday that net profit plunged 90 percent in the first quarter, hit by surging fuel costs and a wider economic slowdown.

LONDON, August 1, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways, which is in merger talks with Spanish airline Iberia, said on Friday that net profit dived 90 percent in the first quarter, hit by surging fuel costs and a wider economic slowdown.

LONDON, August 1, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways, which is in merger talks with Spanish peer Iberia, said on Friday its net profit had dived 90 percent to 27 million pounds (34 million euros, 53 million dollars) during its first quarter.

'We are in the worst trading environment the industry has ever faced,' BA chief executive Willie Walsh said in a trading update.

MADRID, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - Spanish national carrier Iberia and British Airways said Tuesday they were holding merger talks as the aviation sector battles soaring fuel prices that are hitting its bottom line.

LONDON, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways and Spanish national carrier Iberia said Tuesday they are holding talks on a multi-billion-dollar merger as the aviation sector battles soaring fuel prices.

MADRID, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's flag carrier Iberia said Tuesday it had bought a 2.99 percent stake in British Airways earlier this year and has the option to buy another 6.99 percent of the airline.

LONDON, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways and Spanish national carrier Iberia are holding friendly talks about a possible tie-up as the aviation sector battles soaring fuel prices, the two companies announced on Tuesday.

LONDON, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways and Spanish national airline Iberia are in talks about a possible merger, the two companies announced on Tuesday.

'British Airways and Iberia are holding talks with a view to an all-share merger between the two companies. The negotiations are supported unanimously by the boards of both companies,' the pair said in a statement.

LONDON, July 28, 2008 (AFP) - OpenSkies, a new airline taking advantage of more flexible rules on carriers across the Atlantic, said Monday it was to launch a new daily service between Amsterdam and New York.

LONDON, July 8, 2008 (AFP) - The crew of a British Airways Boeing 777 jet, which landed short of the runway at London's main Heathrow airport earlier this year, have been rewarded for their skill and courage, the airline said Tuesday.

LONDON, July 2, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said on Wednesday that it will buy French carrier L'Avion for 54 million pounds (68 million euros, 107 million dollars) to combine with its transatlantic OpenSkies operation.

'British Airways has reached an agreement to buy French airline L'Avion,' the company said in a statement.

MILAN, June 3, 2008 (AFP) - The European Commission should oppose Italian government funding for Alitalia, Italy's flag carrier, British Airways head Willie Walsh said Tuesday.

British Airways said on Thursday it would raise its fuel surcharge on long-haul and short-haul airfares because of high oil prices which increase the cost of jet fuel.

World oil prices had struck record highs above 135 dollars per barrel last week and traded above 130 dollars on Thursday.

PARIS, May 27, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways has placed firm orders for two Airbus A318s to launch the London City airport to New York route, the aircraft maker said on Tuesday.

Airbus did not give a value for the order but at current list prices the plane, the smallest in the Airbus stable, would cost nearly 60 million dollars.

PARIS, May 21, 2008 (AFP) - Former French international midfielder Ibrahim Ba announced on Wednesday he was retiring.

The 35-year-old -scorer of two goals in his eight international appearances - has been at AC Milan since 1997 but rarely won a regular first team spot and was on several occasions loaned out to various other European clubs.

WASHINGTON, May 16, 2008 (AFP) - OpenSkies, a new transatlantic airline created by British Airways, said Friday it won approval from US regulators to launch flights between New York and Paris starting in June.

LONDON, May 16, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Friday that its annual net profit more than doubled as it cut costs to help offset record high fuel prices while the group offered its first dividend in seven years.

LONDON, May 16, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Friday its annual net profit more than doubled as it cut costs to help offset record high fuel prices.

BA however warned of a difficult future amid an economic downturn and after the catastrophic opening of London Heathrow airport's new Terminal Five which is exclusively used by the British airline.

LONDON, April 30, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Wednesday it was examining closer cooperation with US carriers American Airlines and Continental Airlines but gave no additional information.

'British Airways is exploring opportunities for co-operation with American Airlines and Continental Airlines,' BA said in a very brief statement to the London Stock Exchange.

LONDON, April 30, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways chief Willie Walsh said Wednesday the state of London's Heathrow Airport was damaging the country's reputation and economy.

His outburst came a day after Don Langford, head of customer services Europe for American Airlines, slammed Britain's biggest airport, branding it a 'bit of a dump' and the 'worst' among major European air hubs.

LONDON, April 29, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Tuesday it would hike its fuel surcharge on long-haul and short-haul airfares due to soaring oil prices that increase the cost of kerosene or jet fuel.

The price of New York's light, sweet crude oil had struck a record high 119.93 dollars per barrel in trading on Monday.

MADRID, April 15, 2008 (AFP) - Savings bank Caja Madrid said Tuesday it will reopen talks with British Airways over Iberia but has ruled out selling any part of its 22.9 percent stake in the Spanish flagcarrier to the airline.

LONDON, April 15, 2008 (AFP) - Two senior executives are leaving British Airways, the company said Tuesday, following the chaotic opening of its new terminal five building at London Heathrow airport.

LONDON, April 14, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said Monday he had 'no intention' of resigning over the disastrous opening of London Heathrow airport's new Terminal 5.

BA has exclusive use of T5 but the multi-billion-pound facility has been plagued by severe logistical problems since its launch last month.

LONDON, April 11, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Friday that it was delaying until June the transfer of its longhaul flight operations to London Heathrow's new terminal, which has suffered severe problems since its recent launch.

Almost all of British Airways' Terminal 4 long-haul services had been due to switch to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 on April 30.

LONDON, April 11, 2008 (AFP) - British Airways said Friday that it was delaying until June the transfer of its longhaul flight operations to London Heathrow's new terminal, which has suffered severe problems since its recent launch.

Almost all of British Airways' Terminal 4 long-haul services had been due to switch to Heathrow's new Terminal 5 on April 30.