LONDON— Two senior British Airways (BA) pilots have been removed from their management positions after allegedly manipulating flight rosters to ensure they were assigned to the same trip to Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE). The internal investigation began after a whistleblower reported the matter to the airline’s leadership.
The trip, which included an overnight stay in Venice, led to scrutiny over whether their actions breached company rules. Both pilots continue to fly for British Airways but no longer hold management responsibilities.
Representative Photo: British AirwaysBritish Airways Pilots’ Misconduct
British Airways launched a formal inquiry after reports emerged that a married female pilot in a management role and a male colleague, also in a senior position, arranged a roster to place them on the same Venice flight.
Sources indicated that the trip was not operationally necessary for both to attend, raising questions about compliance with internal scheduling protocols.
An insider stated that the arrangement drew attention within the pilot community and prompted questions from senior management.
The alleged planning for a leisure-driven trip rather than an operational requirement was considered a serious breach of conduct standards for management-level personnel, The Standard UK reported.
Representative Photo: British AirwaysDisciplinary Actions
Following the investigation, British Airways confirmed in a letter to staff that the female pilot, who held higher seniority, had stepped down from her management role. The communication expressed appreciation for her service over the past 15 months and confirmed her return to line flying duties.
The male pilot, described internally as highly respected and experienced in pilot training, also lost his management role. Both pilots remain employed and continue to operate flights for British Airways in standard line duties.
The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) was understood to have been informed about the process but declined to comment publicly on the matter. British Airways reiterated its position of not commenting on internal personnel issues when approached by media outlets.
Airlines typically maintain strict guidelines on roster assignments, particularly for those in senior operational or training positions. Manipulating schedules for personal reasons can undermine operational efficiency, raise fairness concerns among crew, and risk reputational damage to the carrier.
In this case, the overnight stay in Venice, coupled with the absence of a clear operational need for both management-level pilots to be on the same flight, prompted the internal probe.
While the airline has not disclosed specific disciplinary measures beyond the demotions, the outcome highlights the emphasis on maintaining integrity in operational planning.
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The post British Airways Pilots Demoted Over Alleged Venice Trip Misconduct appeared first on Aviation A2Z.
