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BA executives' share options revealed

Seven British Airways executives were given share options worth almost £3m days before the first of two cabin crew strikes began last month, it has been revealed.

According to reports chief financial officer Keith Williams was top of the pile with options £812,807 followed by director of people Tony McCarthy with £461,822 and director of strategy Robert Boyle £437,192.

In addition director of investments and alliances Roger Maynard received options worth £344,827, director of sales and marketing Andrew Crawley £338,670; director of engineering Garry Copeland £283,250 and acting customer director Drusilla Maizey £266,380.

News of the options has angered the trade union BA is in dispute with over cabin crew rosters that prompted two damaging strikes last month.

Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey told The Times: "It beggars belief that on the very day Unite was working furiously to avert strikes and negotiate a settlement BA’s boardroom were more concerned with finalising their bonanza."

BA said it will be three years before the options can be realised and they are performance related. Chief Executive Willie Walsh has not received a bonus for the last three years.