Willie Walsh turns down bonus

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh has turned down a £334,000 bonus after the airline announced that no-one would receive a payment.

It's the second year running that Mr Walsh has turned down his entitlement. He was due to receive deferred shares awarded to him by the board for the last financial year, it was disclosed in the airline's annual report.

BA also said that his salary has remained frozen at £735,000, the level it was set at in 2008.

Mr Walsh actually received £674,000 last year because he voluntarily gave up his pay for the month of July as the airline was making cost savings. Nearly 7,000 other employees also took voluntary pay cuts.

The Unite Union, which represents airline staff, have said: "there would have been uproar if Mr Walsh had pocketed a bonus this year. His plans for BA have seen it become a byword for bullying, driving customers into the arms of competitors."

The union's Assistant General Secretary, Len McCluskey, added: "There should be no bonus and no mega-pot of shares until BA sorts the cabin crew dispute."