Senior British Airways pilot exposes racist cockpit culture

A senior British Airways pilot has revealed startling levels of casual racism in the company, which once famously claimed to be the worlds favourite airline.

London, Apr.26 : A senior British Airways pilot has revealed startling levels of casual racism in the company, which once famously claimed to be "the world's favourite airline".

Captain Doug Maughan, who has 28 years' flying experience, including 15 years with BA, says that derogatory remarks about race by his colleagues are so common they are treated as normal.

Maughan, a serving pilot who captains BA aircraft to all parts of the world, has decided to go public with his complaints after struggling to persuade BA's management to take racism among its senior staff seriously.

He has complained by email to BA's chief executive, Willie Walsh, but says no action was taken, reports The Independent.

The airline carries 36 million passengers a year; operates out of airports in every continent; and could plausibly claim to be one of Britain's most high-profile companies.

Maughan alleges that racism is a "generational" problem - common among middle-aged pilots, but rare among younger pilots.

Maughan, 53, is so exasperated by what he sees as BA management's refusal to tackle the problem that he is planning a protest at this year's annual shareholders' meeting.

BA said: "All British Airways employees must adhere to our policies concerning dignity at work. Under these policies we encourage employees to report incidences of racism, sexism or any other behaviour that they deem offensive or inappropriate. Any reports of such behaviour are taken extremely seriously and investigated as a matter of priority. Captain Maughan has a duty as an employee to provide details of any alleged inappropriate behaviour direct to the airline."

ANI