British Airways yesterday said the company's net loss more than quadrupled during its first half, forcing the carrier to slash an extra 1,200 jobs in an "essential" cost reduction programme.

BA posted a loss after tax of £217 million pounds (€242 million) during the six months to September 30 compared with a loss of £49 million during the equivalent period in 2008.

"Aviation remains in recession," BA chief executive Willie Walsh said in comments accompanying news of the company's deep loss.

"With (BA) revenue likely to be £1 billion lower this year, we can't stand still and further cost reduction is essential," he warned.

British Airways said it would cut an extra 1,200 jobs, taking the total planned reduction to 4,900 by 2010.

Most of the new losses would be outside Britain and follows a high response from staff agreeing to work part-time or take voluntary redundancy to help secure the airline's future.

BA also announced yesterday that group revenues dropped nearly 14 per cent to £4.1 billion in the first half.

Some commercial airlines across the world are suffering badly from the massive global economic slump that has slashed demand for air travel and sparked a major cash squeeze for the sector.

However Irish low-cost airline Ryanair on Monday said its net profit had shot up 80 per cent to €387 million in April-September compared with the same period a year earlier.

On Thursday, Italian flag carrier Alitalia reported its first operating profit since its takeover by an alliance of Italian business interests last January.

Meanwhile in a bid to improve its fortunes and claw back ground lost to British rival Virgin, BA in late September launched an all-business class service from London to New York.