Challenges Faced by British Airways during COVID Pandemic

This report highlights the challenges faced by British Airways and its staff during the COVID pandemic, including job cuts, salary reductions, and mental health issues. It also provides potential solutions for the organization to overcome these challenges.

Company and Business
Problem: British Airways

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Key Challenges faced by staff and company during COVID pandemic.........................................3
Solution for the challenges face by the organization.......................................................................5
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Aviation industry refer to sector that handle flights of the country. COVID pandemic has
the worst effect on all form of industry around the world and airlines also effected from it.
British airway(BA) is one of the known aviation firm that employee's large number of worker
and contribute in economy of Britain. Coronavirus increase financial burden on the company and
it has to fire many of employee's and change in contact policy. BA also reduce salary of current
employee's as explained in below report. Report Highlight challenges face by British Airway and
its staff because of pandemic and measure it can tack to handle it. In the end show reflection that
emphasize on key employability skills gain and analyse by researcher.
Key Challenges faced by staff and company during COVID pandemic
COVID has highly effected aviation industry of UK. Thousands of workers in it either
fired from the job or salary reduces which make difficult to survive. During lock down less
number of flights which can travel and hence less number of workforce required and hence
different airlines unable to pay workers and take their job (Gould, 2020.). British Airway is one
of the well-known aviation company in UK but because of pandemic, revenue of the firm falls
and it effected on job and salary of its employees.
Challenges face by Staff:
There are multiple challenges face by the workforce of the company. Most of the staff are
not allowed to work and because of not paying well. Pandemic negatively effect on mental health
of workers of the company because of insecurity in work and future of them in the industry. In
the early stage firm providing 80% of salary with the help of government. To employees under s
coronavirus job retention program. However, aviation industry is highly impacted then the BA
think and unable to earn money for paying staff and unable to save the employment. British
Airways express that they have to cut the jobs of almost 12000 employees. Company warned the
workers if contract was not work then they have to fire large number of worker, but they will try
to rehire with new agreements. It creates fear among workers that they might lose the job with
this new announcement and if they will be hired amount will be less paid by the employers.
Reduce salary already effected their survival in inflation and most of the workers and unable to
pay their loan and bills with the salary they are getting from the company. Union Unite raise
issue that company is using policy hire and rehire which effected thousands of workers life in the
firm also increase atmosphere of tension and stress among employees. COVID has long termed

effect on jobs of the workers and also on their survival. Worker has to wear close uniform and
mask during travelling which effecting on oxygen level and it decreases. Patient of Coronavirus
continuously hiking which increase fear in working in this sector. Long flights with unidentified
COVID patient become challenging for the workers because according to the research Covid
spread through air and hence they can be effected from the virus (Bas and Sivaprasad, 2020).
Coronavirus effect on liver and has long time effect so travelling with unknown become not safe
for the workers. Government rules and regulation again increase tense atmosphere for example
anyone found infected by the virus has to be quarantine for 10-21 days and in this company sick
eaves are very short and amount deducted by the company for not working (Gössling, Scott and
Hall, 2020.). Working in such condition with low salary and job fear has negatively effect on life
of the workers. Depression among employees increase and suicide can be increases because of it.
However, firm and government didn't awake still from this kind of atmosphere. Isolation during
lock-down and after upliftment become major problem among workers of British airway and
before this pandemic they are most loyal and participative in work but it negatively impacted on
the behaviour and skills of the workers. There are number of problem associated with the virus
and there is no guarantee that recover person will not be effected again and on the contrary
identified that recover person can be effected from the covid and lead to his death. Employees
have no choice if they do not work at low wages then they will die with hunger and depression
and if work then prepare for COVID and hence it becomes challenging atmosphere for work and
imbalance life (Nicola and et.al, 2020). There are other challenges also at workplace such as
food and maintaining proper sanitization which is necessary for taking precaution against the
coronavirus. Safety measure such sanitizing hand, taking heated water etc. was not in routine life
of workers and adopting it becomes difficult for them. New normal after the pandemic created
the worst impact on life and work of British airways.
Challenges face by Company:
British airways facing large number of challenges because of pandemic and it becomes
difficult for the firm to run the business in such conditions. Company already warned that they
now they are not is position to employee's the workers as before. In Lock down most of the
aircraft of the firm stand on platform and very few aircraft travel around the country and world;
and hence revenue and profit of the organization effected which increase burden on paying salary
to the workers. Firm also facing opposition and challenges from different Union which are

against of cutting the salary of employee's and left no choice for them to work in low wages.
Most of the skilled workforce has to be fire because law profit generation from flights. Tourism
in the country no more in same position which was BA's one of main source for revenue
generation. During 6 months travellers from around the world were stopped and remain effective
until country able to tackle the situation and sure about it, so employing is not possible for the
firm. £66bn loss face by the company because of pandemic which effected on work criteria and
employment. Company's revenue drop by 50% of airline and it is estimated around $419bn in the
year 2020 compare to last year. 12000 of skilled and trained workforce fired by the organization
because of negative effect of pandemic on firm. Company financial loss increase chances that
there are more number of workers can be fired. Although, in the starting of pandemic company
manage to pay 30,000 employee's 80% of salary with the help of government under coronavirus
job retention program (BBC, 2020). Official said that aviation sector or any industry country has
the worst impact then one can imagine and conserve cash measures are not enough. Pandemic
increases financial burden on the company for example now additional cost will company has to
bear for virus safety method in flights. In lock-down company has to allow limited flights and all
of them are related to rescue workers and citizens from the country and hence this limited flight
not able to give enough money to all (Abate, Christidis and Purwanto, 2020). Company try to
protect job of all workers by new contract but Unite union challenges oppose it and told that this
is Fire and hire policy which cannot implement in private sector body. Most of the worker are
join hand with union and protesting against it without understanding that if company unable to
follow the procedure then large number of workers will be unemployed because of shutting
down the business. Government rules and regulation are another factor that pressurizing
company and decrease its financial capacity to meet future challenges. International students,
tourist from the country and out etc. were one of the major source of income for the firm but
after pandemic people avoid unnecessary travelling and hence close gate of generation of
revenue for the British airway. If the trend of pandemic continue then it will become difficult for
the airline to survive and might be close the firm or sale to another aviation company (Domingo,
Marquès and Rovira, 2020.).
Solution for the challenges face by the organization
There are number of challenges face by the firm as identify from the sources but as the
company need to grow and expand then have to tack proper measure.

 Company revenue decreases during pandemic and hence less finance available for
meeting future needs. British airway still can expand the business by decreasing price of
air ticket. Cutting price strategy will help to gain customers of other firms and now days
everyone is planning to save the money and hence this strategy can be successful run of
the business (Naboush and Alnimer, 2020). It can also start discount and offer to attract
customers and as the travellers number increases then firm revenue generate which will
help in managing expenses. It increases financial capacity of the firm which help in
expanding and operating business smoothly.
 Company can introduce some changes in present policy related to worker which help in
gaining loyalty of them. It can mention that the present policy can be altered or change if
the company's market rise after the covid vaccination. Trust have to build among firm
and its employee's by convincing them cutting salary is the only option for the firm to run
the business and if they will support then their job will secure (Adrienne, Budd and Ison,
2020). Personal conversation between employee's and employer using video
conferencing or a message by higher authority can be beneficial as it increases trust of the
workers towards firm.
 Government rules and regulation can be changed if company able to get confidence of
competitors and try to make them understand that this measure can only save future of
aviation industry. For example cutting price in salary can be increase in future but for
present conditions, it becomes necessary to implement it. Taxes reduction demand also be
introduced in the conversation and shows aspect of it because less passenger already
breaking back of the firm and it will be not possible to pay high taxes. Association also
try to convenience that government support in terms of money needed to run the industry.
As the aviation is one of the biggest industry then association of it can help in gaining
government support.
 Union of the worker can be managed if company share all details where it is in losses and
what will be the future of present policy. Communication between them is important as it
is necessary four maintaining relation and building trust. Explain about that they are not
the only who are firing employee's but there are many because of the worst financial
effect of pandemic (Nižetić, 2020). Future results of union demand is collapsing of
business and almost all workers employed compare to present and effective

communication about it can only help in gaining loyalty of leaders of union. Union is the
one of the important committee that make employee's understanding the situation and
hence company able to make changes. Employing workers with low amount and new
contract can be possible with this method.
 Company has to effectively use social media to attract customers for example
government started allowing some category of people in the country for example such as
international students, workers etc. British airway take it as opportunity to expand
business and it is less costly compare to other promotion method. Firm try to gain trust of
customer that they are taking high measure to protect customer from virus. Videos and
images, experience of customer on social media can also help in gaining loyalty of the
travellers. Employee's training related to precaution and safety of customer must be
strong so that they also feel company is right choice in travelling during pandemic.
 Limited flights with proper occupancy as per the guidelines of government can decrease
expenditure of the firm and hence it able to increase profit. Staff should be given benefit
if customer comes from reference as it increase customer for the firm and on the other
side company revenue rise which help in maintaining position in this pandemic. Giving
benefit to old customers and reference discount can help the firm in attracting large
number of customers (Budd and Ison, 2020).
REFLECTION
I have learned so many things during research on British airways for example I have
limited time for the research and fewer sources are available on internet but managing time on
research skill is developed during this report. Communication skill of mine is very poor during
the study, and I am unable coop with the project which increase burden of work and hence feel
that need to improve this for future growth. Student life increase burden on me but after seeing
that large number of workers fire from the company and not able to gain job again so it affected
my confidence level. Not able to think that recession can overcome one day but highly motivate
by seniors and able to come over from this problem and it developed motivation skills in me
which can help in future and also in present tense condition. I was very lack in following
instruction but in this report follow my instruction and it helps in covering study within time
frame. Leadership quality one of thing that I learn from it for example in this case company
policy was opposed by Union leaders and hence company has to again revise policy. Use skill as

a leader to motivate my friend and make them understand that pandemic will over soon, and they
have to focus in work. However, patience level of mine is not good as I observe during study for
example easily loose hope when I am not able to find anything in initial stage. We were team of
so many students, and participated continuously which increase team work skill, it will help in
future at my workplace and life. Although throughout report research my emotion not balance
for example large number of worker lose their job and it makes me sad for them. I have lack of
adaptability quality as analyse during research, I feel suffocated wearing mask and unable to
accept new normal which is necessary for survival. Also, few members in the group are unable to
handle when I was giving task to monitor their work but in later stage we all become friend and
enjoy a lot throughout the research. I am not easily able to recover from difficulties and
toughness and hence have very low resilience which can become barrier in my career and hence I
will try to solve them. Throughout the research learn so many things and develop many skills as
well analyse where I am lack and my experience was amazing.
CONCLUSION
It can be analysed that British Airways facing various kind of challenges because of
COVID pandemic and because of it large number of employees fire and reduce the salary. Also
new contract and policy for workers decreasing trust of the employee's towards firm. However,
firm can take various measure to overcome from it for example increase social media marketing
to attract customers, convincing workers and union that this changes will alter once company
will regain the position as it was before the pandemic. In the end reflection shows skill
developed or analyse during the research such as communication , leadership skillsetc.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Abate, M., Christidis, P. and Purwanto, A.J., 2020. Government support to airlines in the
aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Air Transport Management.p.101931.
Adrienne, N., Budd, L. and Ison, S., 2020. Grounded aircraft: An airfield operations perspective
of the challenges of resuming flights post COVID. Journal of Air Transport
Management.89. p.101921.
Bas, T. and Sivaprasad, S., 2020. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis on the Travel
and Tourism Sector: UK Evidence. Available at SSRN 3623404.
Budd, L. and Ison, S., 2020. Responsible Transport: A post-COVID agenda for transport policy
and practice. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives.6.p.100151.
Domingo, J.L., Marquès, M. and Rovira, J., 2020. Influence of airborne transmission of SARS-
CoV-2 on COVID-19 pandemic. A review. Environmental Research.p.109861.
Gössling, S., Scott, D. and Hall, C.M., 2020. Pandemics, tourism and global change: a rapid
assessment of COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism.pp.1-20.
Gould, C.L and et.al., 2020. Protecting staff and patients during airway management in the
COVID-19 pandemic: are intubation boxes safe?. British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Naboush, E. and Alnimer, R., 2020. Air carrier's liability for the safety of passengers during
COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of air transport management.89.p.101896.
Nicola, M and et.al, 2020. The socio-economic implications of the coronavirus and COVID-19
pandemic: a review. International Journal of Surgery.
Nižetić, S., 2020. Impact of coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic on air transport mobility,
energy, and environment: A case study. International Journal of Energy Research.
Online
British Airways faces strike threat over job cut plan. By BBC, 2020 Available through:
<https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53564385>

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