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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Profit fall for British Airways | Profit fall for British Airways |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| British Airways has reported a fall in quarterly profits in the wake of a series of airport disruptions. | |
| BA said pre-tax profits for the three months to the end of December fell to £113m ($222m), from £166m last year. | BA said pre-tax profits for the three months to the end of December fell to £113m ($222m), from £166m last year. |
| The news comes just days after BA reached a last-minute deal with unions to avert a strike by cabin crew. | The news comes just days after BA reached a last-minute deal with unions to avert a strike by cabin crew. |
| The planned action would have grounded BA flights from Heathrow and Gatwick airports and caused major disruption for thousands of BA passengers. | |
| BA said it expected to lose about £80m in revenues as a result of the dispute. | |
| 'Patience and loyalty' | 'Patience and loyalty' |
| I want to apologise for the inconvenience they have suffered during this period Willie Walsh, BA chief executive | |
| BA said severe fog before Christmas and the failure of the baggage system on two occasions in December at Heathrow's Terminal 4 had cost the firm about £40m during the final three months of 2006. | BA said severe fog before Christmas and the failure of the baggage system on two occasions in December at Heathrow's Terminal 4 had cost the firm about £40m during the final three months of 2006. |
| Chief executive Willie Walsh said the "patience and loyalty" of BA's passengers had been tested by the setbacks over Christmas. | Chief executive Willie Walsh said the "patience and loyalty" of BA's passengers had been tested by the setbacks over Christmas. |
| "I want to apologise for the inconvenience they have suffered during this period," Mr Walsh said. | "I want to apologise for the inconvenience they have suffered during this period," Mr Walsh said. |
| A planned two-day strike by BA cabin crew was called off on Monday, following marathon talks between the airline's bosses and the Transport and General Workers Union (T&G). | |
| The two sides had been at loggerheads over a number of issues, including pay, pensions and the management of sickness absence. | |
| BA had cancelled 1,300 flights on Tuesday and Wednesday - when the strike was due to take place - but the airline managed to resume services after the deal with the T&G was reached. | |
| However, the agreement came too late to prevent disruption to thousands of BA passengers, many of whom made alternative plans as the planned strike date drew near. | |
| BA said it was cutting its full-year revenue guidance to 3.25%-3.75% growth, compared with a 4.5%-5% forecast in November. |