BRITISH AIRWAYS STEWARD WINS £29,195 UNFAIR DISMISSAL PAYOUT

An employment tribunal has ruled that British Airways unfairly dismissed a cabin crew member sacked over claims he disturbed a colleague behind a privacy curtain and asked her to join the "mile high club". Charly Mateo, based at Heathrow, was also accused of touching the flight attendant's leg and sharing "sexual stories" about two women. A tribunal judge found that British Airways, which dismissed him in July 2024, had not investigated the claims thoroughly enough, though Mr Mateo had shown "strange behaviour" and invaded his colleague's privacy. He was awarded £29,195.69 in compensation but lost his bid for reinstatement.

Mr Mateo worked as cabin crew for British Airways from September 2018 to July 2024, keeping a clean disciplinary record and commendations for good service, the tribunal was told. He earned a basic annual salary of £21,833, plus duty allowance and bar commission. The complaint stemmed from a March 2024 flight on which he was not working as crew but was travelling while "positioning" ahead of duty elsewhere. A colleague said the flight attendant had looked tired afterwards and described trying "to be nice" but needing "to learn how to be blunt with people", adding she had not wanted to talk during her break.

The ruling requires British Airways to pay Mr Mateo compensation for unfair dismissal, while separately finding his conduct inappropriate and invasive of his colleague's privacy. The judge's findings centred on the adequacy of the airline's investigation, not on whether the alleged conduct took place. Mr Mateo's bid to be reinstated to his cabin crew role was rejected. The case was heard and decided at Reading Employment Tribunal in Berkshire.