Long-serving former chief executive and chairman of British Airways Lord Marshall has died aged 78.
A former senior executive with Hertz and Avis, he become BA chief executive in 1983 under chairman Lord King as the airline was transformed in preparation for privatisation four years later.
BA’s £900 million stock market flotation in February 1987 was soon followed by the takeover of Gatwick-based rival British Caledonian.
The carrier also won the Airline of the Year Award five years in succession.
The then Sir Colin Marshall succeeded Lord King as chairman of the airline following the damaging “dirty tricks” battle with Virgin Atlantic, although he was not personally implicated.
He retired from the airline in 2004 and went on to chair VisitBritain as well as a number of organisations including investment bank Nomura International. He became a life peer in 1998.
Travel Weekly Group chairman Clive Jacobs paid tribute to Lord Marshall, saying: “He was a true titan of our industry and should be recognised for his immense contribution to car rental and aviation. BA staff still talk fondly of him years after he stood down as chairman.”