British Airways cancels flight after crew ‘get drunk in a hotel bar before work’

British Airways cancelled a flight from Barbados to London after crew were reportedly unable to work after a party - (Getty/iStock)

A British Airways flight was cancelled after crew members reportedly got drunk in a hotel bar hours before the scheduled departure.

Flight BA254 from Barbados capital Bridgetown to London Heathrow was axed on Sunday, ruining the travel plans of up to 336 passengers.

A number of British Airways crew members have been suspended while an investigation is carried out, the Press Association understands.

The Sun reported that the crew members involved were engaged in a “vodka and beer session”, with one female cabin crew member vomiting and one of her male colleagues collapsing.

The incident happened at an “all-inclusive, ocean-fronted retreat” popular with honeymooners, according to the newspaper, which did not name it.

It has been reported that the crew were drinking vodka in a hotel bar until hours before the flight of 336 passengers were due to depart (Getty/iStock)

It reported that other guests filmed the crew members, one of whom said: “We’re British Airways crew, what of it?”

The flight was due to depart at 4.25pm local time, arriving in the UK at 6.15am on Monday.

British Airways said in a statement: “We expect the highest standards of our crew, and we are urgently investigating this matter.”

In May, British Airways’ parent company IAG warned its profits will be hit as it expects to spend about two billion euro (£1.72 billion) more than planned on fuel this year due to the Iran conflict.

Chief executive Luis Gallego said IAG does not believe there will be “any interruption for the summer” in terms of jet fuel supplies - but warned of rising costs.

Earlier this year, Gallego said BA is “managing the uncertainty” caused by the fuel price increase by “taking the necessary action on yields, costs and capacity”.

He said all airlines “need to increase fares in order to mitigate the impact” of the increase in the price of fuel, which represents about a quarter of their costs.

He added: “Whilst the impact of the higher fuel price will inevitably lead to lower profit this year than we originally anticipated, we are confident in our business model and strategy.”

IAG shares fell by 4 per cent in early trading on Friday after it said it expects its fuel cost to reach nine billion euros (£7.78 billion) this year, which will affect its full-year profit and free cash flow.