BA is to put some of its renowned art collection up for sale in an attempt to raise cash as it prepares to lay off thousands of staff. The airline has called in art valuers and is planning to auction off at least 10 major pieces, some valued at more than GBP1m. BA’s art collection includes works by British artists including Damien Hirst, Peter Doig, Anish Kapoor, Chris Ofili and Tracey Emin. Some have been displayed at the firm’s Waterside headquarters near Heathrow, but many of the 1,500 artworks in the collection have been on the walls of its executive lounges. However, with some analysts believing that the lucrative business travel market may never return to pre-crisis levels, lounges are likely to have more austere decor in future. Sotheby’s has valued a number of works held by BA for a potential imminent sale, with one piece by Bridget Riley – described by some as a masterpiece – likely to leave BA’s Heathrow executive lounge and raise millions for the embattled airline. British Airways did not comment on the art selloff, but a source said the airline was not ruling anything out to save money and jobs, and the idea is believed to have been taken up by management after asking staff where to find savings.<br/>
oneworld
Japan Airlines said Wednesday it will ease domestic flight reductions from later this month as it expects a recovery in travel demand following the lifting of a state of emergency over the new coronavirus epidemic in May. Between next Monday and June 30, JAL plans a reduction of a total of 7,368 flights, a cut of 54% from its initial schedule but less than a reduction of more than 70% between June 1 and Sunday, according to the airline. JAL said a "slight recovery" in domestic passengers is expected as the government's request for people to avoid crossing prefectural borders ends on June 19, after the state of emergency was lifted for all prefectures by May 25. The carrier will also resume 15 domestic flight services that will be suspended through Sunday due to the coronavirus, including those connecting Tokyo and Akita Prefecture as well as Osaka and Kumamoto Prefecture. Regarding international travel, JAL will continue to reduce flights by over 90% in July as entry restrictions will remain in place across the globe to curb the spread of the pneumonia-causing virus.<br/>