British Airways Pensions

About us

Scheme history

  • 1948

  • 1957

  • 1984

  • 1994

  • 1996

  • 2003

  • 2018

  • The start of Airways Pension Scheme (APS), Part 1. First statutory scheme, Money purchase type structure.

  • APS part IV, the scheme structure changed to Final salary scheme, the use of pensionable pay, the average of the best 3 years out of the last 6 used in the pension calculation. Part IV is not contracted out of SERPS.

  • APS closed to new entrants and New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS 1) was introduced for all new entrants from 1 April 1984.

  • Following the sale of the Dan Air Group to BA on 06.11.1992, the Dan Air Pension Scheme (DAPS) and the Davies and Newman Pension Scheme (DNPS) were merged with NAPS on 01.04.1994. Option for active members of APS and NAPS to opt in or out of spouse’s cover introduced 1 April 1994.

  • NAPS 2 was introduced, the abatement pay being modified to 15% of members’s pensionable pay. Surviving dependants’ pension introduced for members paying spouse’s cover who were not legally married.

  • NAPS closed to new members 31 March 2003. A new money purchase scheme was introduced by BA called the British Airways Retirement Plan (BARP). All employees joining BA after 31 March 2003 were eligible to join BARP.

  • NAPS Closed to future pension build-up.

Trustees and Trustee duties

Airways Pension Scheme (APS) Trustee

APS is managed by a Corporate Trustee (Airways Pension Scheme Trustee Ltd), made up of eight Trustee Directors.

  • Four of the Trustee Directors are appointed by British Airways as Employer Nominated Directors (ENDs).
  • Four Trustee Directors are elected by APS members and pensioners as Member Nominated Directors (MNDs).
  • Adult Survivors in receipt of a pension cannot seek election but are entitled to support a nomination and to vote in a ballot that relates to a pensioner vacancy or an active and pensioner combined vacancy.

The APS Trustee Board meets six times a year. In addition to these regular meetings, the Trustee Board may establish sub-committees or ad-hoc committees, as required, so that a small number of Trustee Directors can give detailed consideration to defined issues.

New Airways Pension Scheme (NAPS) Trustee

NAPS is managed by a Corporate Trustee (New Airways Pension Scheme Trustee Ltd), made up of twelve Trustee Directors.

  • British Airways appoints six of the Trustee Directors as Employer Nominated Directors (ENDs).
  • The NAPS membership currently elects two Trustee Directors as MNDs as follows:
  • Two of the MNDs are elected by pensioner members of the Scheme and must be pensioner members of NAPS.
  • A Selection Committee currently appoints four Trustee Directors as MNDs as follows:
  • Three Employed Deferred and Employed Pensioner MNDs. Each will come from a different occupational group and must be employed deferred or employed pensioner members of NAPS.
  • One pensioner MND.

An MND may remain in office for a minimum of five years and a maximum of five and a half years and is eligible for re-appointment (provided that he/she still meets the eligibility criteria for the relevant vacancy).

In addition to regular quarterly meetings, the NAPS Trustee has established two committees to cover Investment, Operations, Governance and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters. The committee structure ensures that all issues receive detailed consideration before they are escalated to the full board for final decision.

Becoming a trustee director

What is a Trustee?

Trustees are people that look after the assets of a pension scheme for the benefit of its members and are legally responsible for doing so. They operate separately from the employer that sponsors the pension scheme.

Your Scheme is managed by two types of Trustee: those appointed by British Airways (employer nominated directors – ENDs), and those elected by members and pensioners (member nominated directors – MNDs).

The role of a Trustee is a rewarding one. Yes, it carries some responsibility, but your duties will be wide-ranging and fulfilling. You’ll also receive support in your role from professional advisers.

The UK pensions system simply would not work without trustees. Your input is important – Trustee Directors really do make a difference.

Commitment

  • You’ll need to dedicate enough time to prepare for, and attend, regular trustee meetings.
  • The term of office for a Trustee Director is for a period of between five and five-and-a-half years.
  • The number of meetings varies from year to year – in some years Trustee Directors could attend an average of 20 meetings.
  • The full Trustee Board meets at least four times a year, and the sub-committees also convene regularly during the year.

Some of the responsibilities of a Trustee include:

  • Understanding how your Scheme works, including the rules that govern it
  • Taking part in Board and Committee meetings
  • Acting responsibly, honestly and prudently in the best interests of Scheme members
  • Managing the Scheme in line with the Trust Deed & Rules, the law of trusts and pensions legislation
  • Safeguarding the retirement savings of Scheme members by identifying, assessing and mitigating risk

To find out more, visit The Pensions Regulator website.

Training, development and support

We understand that you might need to expand your pensions knowledge when you take on this role – that’s why we provide all newly appointed Trustee Directors with comprehensive training and support.

During the course of your appointment, you’ll take part in our ongoing award-winning Trustee Director training programme and attend courses leading to qualification for The Pensions Management Institute’s (PMI) Award in Pensions Trusteeship.

There’s also an e-learning programme in the ‘Trustee Toolkit’ on the home page of The Pensions Regulator website www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

Contact Us

Write to
British Airways Pensions
PO Box 2074
8 Castle Street
Liverpool
L69 2YL

Telephone
020 8538 2100

Send a message
via Contact Us

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