explain to me why 2009, this disastrous year, was the first in at least 5 when a dividend was declared?
Not sure where you're getting your infor from, but BA did not declare a dividend in 2009. They did pay a divi for y/e 3/08, ie the year they made nearly £900m in pre-tax profit. Of 15 analysts I am aware of, none are forecasting a dividend for y/e 3/10, and only one (Deutsche Bank) forecasts a divi for y/e 3/11. I doubt most shareholders care anyway. They're more bothered at seeing the share price rise from its Friday close of 235p back to something close to its early-2007 peak of 578p.