Cabin staff say the policy is not fair

The attendants are angry at BA's policy of forcibly retiring cabin staff at 55.

Jill Kitchenham, 55, of East Sussex, who under BA rules had to retire at the end of January this year, said the policy did not make sense.

"The Government says it wants people to go on working until 70 and I am told that at 55 I am getting kicked out.

"It's a bit galling when BA chairman Lord Marshall is still in his job at the age of 69," she said.

Also protesting was Norma Franks, 55, from Horsham, West Sussex, who had to quit at the end of June after 32 years with the carrier.

She said: "I am totally against this rule. I am fit and I am healthy."

Concorde doubts

Inside the meeting, BA Chairman Lord Marshall warned its next set of quarterly results would reflect tough industry conditions in which the outlook remains uncertain.

"The result for the first quarter of the current financial year will not be known until the end of this month, but it can be expected to reflect a continuing difficult situation for the world air transport industry," Lord Marshall told the meeting.

Lord Marshall also played down hopes that one Concorde could be kept flying after passenger flights cease in the Autumn.

He told shareholders BA was exploring "in great depth" the possibility of the supersonic aircraft being able to fly at special events.

But he added: "I don't think we are terribly hopeful of a satisfactory outcome."

There was also bad news for shareholders, who were told that a resumption of dividend payments would depend on future results and the industry outlook.

Noise protest

The airline also warned it might have to make more contributions to its pension schemes once the results of an actuary review are made known in October.

Shareholders were also greeted by protesters from Heathrow anti-noise campaign HACAN ClearSkies.

They said they were drawing attention to what they believe will be unacceptable pollution levels if a third runway is built at Heathrow.