British Airways to star in BBC’s “A Very British Airline” TV series

British Airways (London) is the star airline in BBC 2’s new “A Very British Airline” TV series.

The BBC has announced episode 1 of A Very British Airline TV series will air in the United Kingdom (except Scotland) on BBC Two on Monday June 2.

The BBC issued this statement on the airline “behind the scenes” series:

BBC Two has announced a new observational documentary series about British Airways. The three-part series will feature unprecedented access to British Airways, exploring every aspect of the institution behind the scenes.

From training new recruits to the future of the organisation, the three-part observational documentary will be the most in-depth analysis of British Airways in 25 years.

Emma Willis, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries BBC One, Two and Four, says: “From Transport for London to Keeping Britain Alive: The NHS In a Day, BBC Two has got to the heart of some of Britain’s most important organisations. This three-part series will capture the immense complexities of a business that powers the nation and will offer a unique insight into British Airways’ future.”

Nick Catliff, Managing Director for Lion Television, says: “It took a long time to persuade BA to give us access but we are now in the thick of filming. BA is a business of course but it’s also an iconic British institution with a unique culture and history. This is just the right moment to be going to the heart of BA as it handles difficult transformational changes and introduces new planes, flies to new destinations, trains new staff and deals with everything from cyclones and bird strikes to demanding first-class passengers and fierce competition.”

The three-part series was commissioned by Janice Hadlow, Controller of BBC Two, and Emma Willis, Head of Commissioning, Documentaries BBC One, Two and Four, and will air in 2014. The 3×60-minute series will be executive produced by Nick Catliff, Managing Director for Lion Television, and Samantha Anstiss, Commissioning Editor for the BBC.

The description of the first issue:

British Airways is one of the UK’s most visible brands, selling Britishness as a mark of quality. But in the last decade, the business has faced financial crisis and today, more people fly Easyjet than BA. As the airline reaches a turning point, the BBC’s cameras have been allowed unique access to its inner world, from top level decisions to the daily challenges of a global operation.

This episode explores how the airline tries to persuade people to spend more to fly, revealing the world found behind the ‘millionaire’s door’ at Heathrow Terminal 5, a lounge, restaurant, spa and champagne bar reserved for those select few who are happy to part with small fortunes to fly in the airline’s First Class.

Also this episode, a look at how the airline is playing catch-up with some of its rivals as it brings its first A380, the world’s biggest passenger plane, into service. Plus, the program follows 18 anxious new recruits on their journey to become cabin crew with British Airways. With exacting standards of dress, behaviour and knowledge, not all of them will make it through the 6-week training course, designed to uncover who is – and who is not – BA.

British Airways: