Letter: British Airways and Malaysia flights

Sir: In your coverage of the Pergau dam story ('Malaysia calls for flights concession', 2 March), you state that British Airways received pounds 2.1m from the British Government as compensation for Malaysian Airlines (MAS) receiving an additional service between Kuala Lumpur and London.

This is not true. British Airways did not receive any money from the UK Government.

Malaysian Airlines operates services for which it does not have rights under the air service agreement with the UK. There is a commercial agreement between MAS and British Airways, as would be normal where there is an imbalance in the capacity to be provided by each side under the bilateral air services agreement.

Yours sincerely,

ROBERT AYLING

Group Managing Director

British Airways

Heathrow Airport

Hounslow

3 March