A BRITISH Airways plan to incentivise pilots to carry less fuel has sparked safety fears.
Crew will be rewarded for measures such as reducing “discretionary fuel” — the amount requested above what is needed for the flight.
Carrying less fuel reduces aircraft weight and therefore emissions.
The scheme will offer one per cent of basic salary directly linked to “improvements” in fuel and carbon performance.
Bosses insist nothing overrides safety but in a poll of 200 pilots, 100 per cent rejected it.
One said of the scheme: “It has gone down like a lead balloon.
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“We need to make fuel decisions without commercial pressure.
“Safety is the most important factor when deciding what fuel to carry.
“There is a danger that pilots become motivated by management to chase fuel bonuses at the expense of safety.
“We will be incentivized to carry less fuel and take more risk as a result.
BA’s Glen Morean, a Boeing 777 captain and safety representative for pilots union Balpa, warned of the risk of “excessively going after targets”.
He added: “The risk increase for outliers is difficult to quantify.”