British Air Officials Resign Amid Cartel Probe

British Airways PLC said Monday that two executives embroiled in an investigation over alleged cartel activity resigned with immediate effect, the Wall Street Journal reports. Commercial Director Martin George and head of communications Iain Burns had been on leaves of absence since June 2006 when the United Kingdom's Office of Fair Trading and U.S. Department of Justice began an investigation. In a letter to BA Chairman Martin Broughton, George said his department may have been involved in "inappropriate conversations in violation of company policy in relation to fuel surcharges." Robert Boyle, British Airways' director of planning, has been appointed commercial director. Thomas Coops, former Communications Director at Abbey National has been appointed interim head of corporate and media relations.