British Airways descends

THE dramatic fall in the ratings of British Airways are down to its chief executive, Alex Cruz, who last year came from his former post as the head of Vueling, with the clear intention of taking BA down the budget airline route.

The World Airline Awards for 2017 of the top 100 airlines put British Airways at 40th (down from 26th in 2016) and Vueling at 88th. Meanwhile, Aeroflot, the Russian airline once known for some of the worst service in the air, comes in at No 30.

The sooner Mr Cruz is replaced with someone who will restore the pursuit of excellence rather than cost-cutting as his first priority, the sooner our national flag carrier will once again be the world’s favourite airline. JEREMY PRICE, Tetbury, Glos.

I WAS on a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Delhi which spent seven hours waiting for de-icing equipment that never materialised before the flight was eventually cancelled.

With my British passport and not having checked in any luggage, I was able to extricate myself from a chaotic Heathrow.

However, an Indian friend on the same flight was not so lucky. She spent three hours queuing for Immigration, then a further few hours searching for her luggage, which had been taken off the plane and dumped in a huge heap.

She spent the night in the terminal, which had run out of food. Worst of all, the few Heathrow staff still present were rude, indifferent and refused to answer questions.

Britain’s finest — our flagship carrier and airport — demonstrating our genius for incompetence and turning a minor issue into a major hassle for thousands of visitors, none of whom will want to repeat the experience, whether they were here on business or on holiday.

Our transport links are crucial for an island nation, as well as an important part of the face we display to the world. RICHARD MILES, Bletchingley, Surrey.