Any of you "below the line" might like to get an Employmet Tribunal to have a look at this.
Employment law seems exceptionally fair and balanced these days, and it may be, esp for the demoted Captains, that BMI must continue to pay a Captain's salary even if a demotion has occurred through no fault of the employee.
Max Pete please note that the law will over-ride any Employee Handbook.
Worth a go.
Try
http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/emp.html
or
http://www.smlawpub.co.uk/