British Midland pilots consider half pay

BMI pilots will have more free time, but less pay

Pilots at BMI British Midland are being asked by unions to consider halving working hours and pay in an effort to save jobs set for the axe amid the crisis in the aviation industry.

BMI, the UK's second largest carrier, and union chiefs have agreed terms over a deal aimed at reducing the scale of cutbacks announced after the US terror attacks prompted a slump in passenger numbers.

The airline earlier this month revealed it was to lay-off one-in-five pilots as part of a scheme aimed at axing 600 staff.

But the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) said a job-share scheme would allow the carrier to reduce from 109 the number of pilot jobs set to go.

'Fulfil a dream'

"Under the part-time working scheme, for every two pilots that opt for reduced hours, one more job is saved," said Balpa general secretary Christopher Darke.

"When good times return to the industry, it will also be easier for BMI British Midland to expand by asking pilots to switch back from part-time to full-time working."

Balpa chief negotiating officer John Moore said that the extra free time would allow pilots to study, spend more time with their families, or to "fulfil a dream."

The Derby-based carrier, which employed 5,500 people, has said it was due to review staffing numbers even before the 11 September attacks.

The airline said three days after revealing its job cutting plans that it would fly an extra four flights a day from London to Belfast, after rival carrier British Airways decided to abandon flights to the province.