British Airways workers have agreed to forgo an extra week's bonus payment this month in a move aimed at saving the airline £15m.

In a separate move, 3,500 middle managers are being asked to accept a five per cent pay cut and receive no bonuses next year, to save a further £9m.

BA said 36,000 pilots, cabin crew, engineers and ground staff had agreed to forgo the bonus in an effort to protect the airline's corporate cash reserves as it responds to the downturn in air travel since the terrorist strikes in the US.