BA said with many of its flights grounded for the foreseeable future, cabin and flight crew had time on their hands and an “appetite to volunteer” in their local communities and support institutions such as the NHS.

“Their advanced first aid qualifications, combined with their natural passion for looking after people, means they can bring technical training and natural kindness to a range of desperately-needed roles for a range of organisations, including the NHS,” said BA.

Elsewhere, with thousands of BA staff contributing daily to operating more than 800 flights to 200 destinations around the world, its workforce possessed vital logistical skills that could benefit the community.

“We’ve had an overwhelming response to our request for volunteers from across British Airways to help in the community fight against coronavirus,” said Louise Evans, BA’s director of external communications and sustainability.

The move comes just a day after it was confirmed BA would look to furlough more than 30,000 employees to protect their roles during the coronavirus crisis after striking an agreement with the Unite union.

“We’re part of the fabric of Britain, and we want to play our role in these unprecedented times,” Evans added. “Thanks to the nature of our business, we can contribute a unique set of skills.”

BA says it has been in talks with a number of organisations to deploy its volunteers, including the NHS Helpforce team which is looking for people to volunteer at Nightingale hospitals being set up in London, Manchester and Birmingham, as well as transporting patients and NHS workers.

Volunteers with first aid training and clinical skills are being paired with St John Ambulance to support emergency response units in the community, while others are applying to volunteer for London Ambulance Service to take 999 and 111 calls, triage them and connect them with a medical professional.

BA’s existing partnership with the British Red Cross will be extended to support the organisation’s efforts, with staff encouraged to sign up for their Community Reserve Volunteer network; the Red Cross is currently mobilising its volunteer workforce to help out at food banks and support hospitals.

Volunteers will reach out to the elderly and those in the community self-isolating via organisations such as Age UK; tasks range from collecting prescriptions and dropping-off food to offering support over the phone, even just being available for a chat.

Other efforts include supporting food bank charities such as the Trussell Trust by sorting and packing donations, collecting supplies and delivering food; donating BA wash bags, socks and blankets to NHS trusts; and channelling money from the airline’s Flying Start partnership with Comic Relief to the Covid-19 response to help those hardest hit, such as the homeless and those experiencing domestic abuse.

Flying crew, in partnership with other airlines, have set up Project Wingman at Whittington Hospital in north London where NHS workers can have a cup of tea and a relaxing chat in a mini first class lounge.