Ayling keeps his feet on the ground

News that China has ordered its airline bosses to book flights for New Year’s Day 2000 as an incentive to ensure their companies solve mill-ennium bug glitches in time, may seem a little harsh.

It appears that British Airways boss Bob Ayling has no intention of taking a tip from the Chinese. He will have his feet firmly on the ground on that date.

Ayling doubles up as chairman of the New Millennium Experience Company, and he will of course be booked up that night making sure that the Dome celebrations go with an, er, bang.

However, BA’s chairman Lord Marshall says he would have no hesitation flying on that night, though unsurprisingly, he has yet to confirm details.