BA drops 25 health clinic agreements

BA drops 25 health clinic agreements

BRITISH Airways has pulled out of 25 franchise agreements with health clinics operating as British Airways Travel Clinics.

The airline had a 10-year agreement with the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad, with 28 BA-branded clinics throughout the UK and six in South Africa.

Three clinics in London, which are owned by the carrier, will continue to operate under BA. A BA spokesman denied the move was primarily a cost-saving exercise, but said it was part of chief executive Rod Eddington's plan to focus on core airline business and return the airline to profitability.

"The three remaining travel clinics are very profitable, but the others were not of great commercial benefit,” he said.

The franchise clinics will no longer carry the BA Travel Clinic name, but will be free to operate under a separate relationship with MASTA.

The spokesman added the carrier is "not abandoning giving customers health advice”, and will offer data on its health website.

* See BA ‘Fresh Approach' story, page 6