British Airways (BA) said it plans to cut a further 1,200 jobs after reporting a first-half loss for the first time.

The job loss announcement means the airline will have shed a total of 4,900 positions by March 2010.

The company reportedly suffered a loss before tax of £292 million sterling or US$485 million for the six months to the end of September, compared with profits of £52 million last year.

The first half of BA's financial year is usually stronger because it covers the summer holiday season.

The airline said revenue over the six-month period was down 13.7 per cent to £4.1 billion compared with 4.75 billion in 2008.

BA has already achieved 1, 900 global job reductions by natural wastage, voluntary redundancies and reduced overtime.