BA bosses face price-fixing case

British Airways has already been fined over the price fixing

Three ex-British Airways executives and one current employee are due to appear in court charged with price fixing.

The men, who deny wrongdoing, are accused of agreeing with Virgin Atlantic to set surcharge prices between 2004 and 2006.

BA's head of sales Andrew Crawley and ex-commercial director Martin George will appear at Southwark Crown Court.

Ex-communications head Iain Burns and ex-UK and Ireland sales chief Alan Burnett are also set to appear.

Over a period of 18 months, fuel surcharges rose from £5 to £60 for a typical long-haul return ticket.

At an earlier court appearance in August 2008, the men were accused of "having dishonestly agreed with others to make or implement arrangements which directly or indirectly fixed the price for the supply in the UK of passenger air transport services by BA and Virgin Atlantic" between July 2004 and April 2006.

Virgin Atlantic's staff have qualified for immunity because they told the OFT about the collusion.

Steve Ridgeway, Virgin's chief executive, is expected to appear as a witness for the prosecution.

Mr George and Mr Burns resigned from BA in 2006, while Mr Burnett retired in the same year. Mr Crawley remains in his role.