Rumour was....Lord King was asked by a Lhr BA engineer (who earned less than £20,000 a year before tax) if he considered his telephone number salery and share option package was justified compared to his?
Lord King answered, "I believe in paying what a person is worth!"
The following evening a BA747 with a full load and a problem engine was not signed off by the BA dispatching engineer.
Someone suggested maybe Lord King could sign instead.
It was then pointed out Lord King was not qualified to sign.
Hopefully the new chief at GF will have a kinder and more diplomatic answer ready for the "little people" that actually move the aircraft if asked about improveing their low salery.