Airlines: British Airways

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(CNN) -- British Airways has moved to cut 13,500 jobs and consolidate its position at London's Heathrow Airport, Europe's busiest, to maintain its position as Europe's premier airline.

BA traces its origins to the birth of civil aviation. Its forerunner, Aircraft Transport and Travel, launched the world's first daily international scheduled air service between London and Paris on August 25, 1919.

BA's worldwide route network covers 263 destinations in 97 countries with 348 aircraft -- one of the largest fleets in Europe. It is one of only two airlines in the world with Concorde, the world's only supersonic passenger aircraft.

British Airways is one of the founding partners of the oneworld alliance, which took off in February 1999. Fellow members now include American Airlines, AerLingus, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LanChile and Qantas. It owns a 25 percent stake in Qantas and 9 percent in Iberia.

Web site: www.britishairways.com

Chief Executive: Rod Eddington

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