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Boris Johnson is under pressure to strip IAG SA\u2019s British Airways of valuable landing slots at UK airports amid concern about the airline\u2019s plan to cut 12,000 jobs, according to a report in the Daily Mail.<\/p>\n
More than 100 British members of parliament from various political parties are asking the prime minister to reconsider British Airways\u2019 right to slots at airports such as Heathrow, the newspaper said. The mounting political pressure comes after British Airways revealed it would cut about 28% of its 42,000 workers as it struggles to survive amid the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
The airline holds more than half of the slots — which give planes the right to take off and land at a certain time — at Heathrow. The slots, particularly the ones at peak times, can be worth several million pounds each. Union Unite and politicians are pressuring the prime minister, saying that airlines should only be able to keep the slots if they also demonstrate they are being socially responsible and \u201cinternally investing\u201d in the business, the newspaper reported.<\/p>\n
A British Airways spokesman said in a statement to the Daily Mail: \u201cWe are acting to protect as many jobs as possible. We call on Unite and GMB to consult with us on our proposals as pilot union, Balpa, is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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