The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has brought charges against four current and former British Airways executives.

They have been charged with involvement in fixing the prices of plane fuel surcharges.

They are BA's head of sales Andrew Crawley.
Ex-commercial director Martin George.
Former communications head Iain Burns.
Former UK and Ireland sales chief Alan Burnett.

Mr George and Mr Burns resigned from BA in 2006, while Mr Burnett retired in the same year.
Mr Crawley remains in his role.

The four are due appear before City of London Magistrates Court on 24 September. If convicted, the men could face prison sentences.

The men are accused of "having dishonestly agreed with others to make or implement arrangements which directly or indirectly fixed the price for the supply in the UK of passenger air transport services by BA and Virgin Atlantic" between July 2004 and April 2006.


The OFT has already fined BA £121.5m for colluding with Virgin Atlantic on fuel surcharges at least six times between 2004-06.
Virgin avoided a fine as they got immunity for 'whistle-blowing'.

BA has also been fined $300m (£150m) by the US Department of Justice over the matter, after a guilty plea.

BA said that about 11 million passengers had been affected, including about seven million in the UK. They can apply for a refund worth about one-third of the fuel surcharge, via a special website.