BA Profits Crash

Half-year profits at British Airways have fallen 91.6%, with the airline blaming "incredibly difficult trading conditions" for the plunge.

BA said pre-tax profit totalled £52m ($81.6m) between April and September, down from £616m a year earlier.

Willie Walsh, BA's chief executive, said the period would "be remembered as one of the bleakest on record. The period was hit by a crisis in the banking sector, record fuel prices and several airlines going out of business."

BA gave warning that the trading outlook remains very difficult because of the weakening economic climate.

The flag carrier also said that it had been hit by the falling value of the pound, which added around £100 million to costs this year, and it is likely to further compound its problems in the second half.