BA welcomes Veteran ID cards
October 8, 2024
British Airways has become the first airline to recognise Veteran ID cards as valid photographic identification on domestic flights. Airlines are legally required to ask passengers for photographic identification before they are allowed to board domestic flights in the UK. The Veteran ID cards now join passports, driving licences, employment ID cards and residency cards as valid forms of ID. British Airways already recognises identification cards for serving Armed Forces personnel.
BA chief executive Sean Doyle said that BA’s decision to treat the card as a valid form of ID “recognised the service made by former military personnel.” British Airways employs hundreds of ex-military personnel and has said that it “works with the Armed Forces to support people to transition from the military to positions within the airline.” Doyle noted that: “I’m incredibly proud of our colleagues who have served their country and of the professionalism, skill and experience they bring to our organisation… I’m delighted that we’ve been able to make this change as it underlines our commitment to recognising their sacrifice and service.”
The Veteran ID card was introduced by the government in January to give veterans a means of proving that they had served in the Armed Forces, and to ease access to the Defence Discount Service or to allow the holder to apply for a Veterans Railcard. “We know through our conversations with veterans that this card provides them with a way of maintaining a tangible link to their military careers,” Doyle said.
Veterans Minister Al Carns welcomed the news, saying that: “We thank British Airways for their continued support of the Armed Forces community. Those who serve and have served make extraordinary sacrifices to ensure Britain is safe at home and secure abroad, and it is vital that they receive the recognition they deserve.”
