Speaking at the Airlines 2025 conference on Monday (10 November), chief executive Sean Doyle ran through BA's £7 billion investment plans, but said there would be no change from the current buy onboard policy.
“We had free food for many years," he said. "I think our model today works. Someone said to me a bad free food option is a lot worse than a good paid-for option.”
Doyle admitted that after the pandemic, “it was very obvious a whole host of things needed to be transformed” at BA. This included technology, with a new “gamechanging” BA app due next year, lounge revamps and BA's premium cabins.
He said 74% of aircraft now had BA’s new business class, with its Boeing 787 fleet due to be refitted by the end of 2026 followed by Airbus A380s. Starlink WiFi will also be introduced free for all passengers.
He added BA’s new Miami lounge was “a real statement of intent". "We are going to get the ground product right," he insisted.
Doyle declined to speculate on what the Budget would bring, but warned any cost increases imposed on the industry would have to be paid for by consumers through fare increases.
Looking further ahead, Doyle said India – to which he claimed BA is already market leader – would provide the biggest opportunity for BA in the next few years.
“India’s economy is growing at 7% a year,” Doyle noted. Hinted at expansion, he added: “I am very keen to keep our leadership."
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