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British Airways faces a coordinated campaign for bigger salary increases from pilots, cabin crew and ground staff in a challenge to its efforts to beat down costs. The British Airline Pilots Association, Unite and GMB unions are seeking BA’s first-ever joint pay deal, they said Friday. The 3-year plan would feature settlements above inflation, bonuses that better track profit, and a share-incentive program, people familiar with the matter said. British Airways said it was working with unions “to find a positive approach” to pay talks. The unions say salaries haven’t reflected profit gains that came with the drop in oil prices in 2014, lifting profits to GBP1.8b (US$2.3b) in 2017 from an operating loss of GBP230min 2009. <br/>

A drunk pilot has just cost the president of Japan Airlines 20% of his salary for a few months. Taking responsibility for the errant cockpit crew member, the top executive at the carrier, Yuji Akasaka, will take home less pay December through February, while Toshinori Shin, a senior managing executive officer, will have his reduced by 10%. Both of them had already voluntarily given up a part of their salaries for November. The pilot, who showed up for duty to fly the London-Tokyo route Oct 28, was found to have consumed excessive alcohol, following which he was handed a 10-month sentence in the UK. Japan Airlines apologised for the embarrassing incident and announced corrective measures, including better awareness and training for all its employees. <br/>