BRITISH Airways today said that it was axing 400 jobs as it closes its 17 high street travel agent outlets and a call centre.

The firm, which has Scottish outlets in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, said it was looking to concentrate on online bookings in future under a restructure of part of its UK direct sales operations.

"Our high street travel shop business is forecast to make ever increasing losses in the years ahead despite continued efforts to reduce costs and improve revenue. We are therefore also proposing to close all 17 shops by the end of August," BA commercial director Martin George said in a statement.

The airline will consult with trade unions about the proposed closures.

The proposed changes will affect around 300 staff who work in the 17 high street travel shops, corporate travel agency Worldlink based at Heathrow and its back office support areas and a further 100 staff that currently work in the Belfast call centre.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/bu...m?id=390802006