British Airways commercial director Martin George and communications head Iain Burns today stepped down from their positions amid an investigation into alleged price-fixing on transatlantic and other long-haul passenger services. The two had taken a leave of absence in June, following an Office of Fair Trading raid on BA's offices at Heathrow Airport
(BTN, July 17).
In February, a whistle-blower from another carrier led officials from the European Commission and the United States to raid the offices of BA and several other airlines as part of the investigation of fuel surcharges and levies on cargo prices.
In a letter to BA chairman Martin Broughton, George wrote, "I now recognize that within my department, there may have been inappropriate conversations in violation of company policy in relation to long-haul fuel surcharges. I was not involved in such conversations. Although the board of BA have not found that I have behaved in a dishonest way, I fully recognize my responsibilities as head of department and as a board director."
BA said director of planning Robert Boyle immediately takes on the commercial director role. Meanwhile, the carrier appointed Thomas Coops, former communications director at Abbey National, to head up corporate and media relations.