British Airways PLC: FCA regulated?

Appointed representative

This firm does not hold FCA authorisation of its own, and acts under a principal firm, which is legally responsible for its regulated business.

Appointed for 19 years
Protected through the principal
No FCA actions
Active company since 1983

Responsible principal firm

AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVICES EUROPE LIMITED Reference number: 661836 Authorised View firm →

What does this mean?

An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct.
British Airways PLC (FRN 466424) is an AR of AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVICES EUROPE LIMITED (FRN 661836). When you use British Airways's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm.
Example: if you take financial advice from British Airways, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances.
Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

This company holds another FCA record

A company can hold several FCA records, covering different parts of its business, and each one carries its own permissions and protection. The reference number you were given decides which record applies to you.

British Airways PLC Reference number: 711791 Authorised

Website, phone number and address

Compare these against whatever you were given. Scammers clone real firm names and reference numbers but use their own phone number and website, so a detail that does not match the register is the clearest warning sign there is.

Website

britishairways.com (opens in a new tab)
Phone number

07595 680800
Address

Waterside, Hamondsworth, West Drayton, Middlesex, UB7 0GB, United Kingdom

In the full report: 3 background checks

When britishairways.com first appeared online, and whether it can receive email
What kind of line 07595 680800 is
Who else gives the postcode UB7 0GB

FCA permissions and consumer protection

Protection through the principal firm
Protection works through American Express Services Europe Limited, the principal firm responsible for this firm's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.
Complaints Ombudsman, free
You can refer a complaint about this firm to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free, whichever activity it relates to.

FCA disciplinary action and complaints

No FCA disciplinary action.

The Financial Ombudsman Service only publishes complaint figures for firms with 30 or more new complaints in six months, so there are none here for this firm.

Companies House record

The company behind the firm: its status, age, registered office and directors.

Company number: 01777777 (opens Companies House in a new tab)
Company status: Active
Company type: Public limited company
Incorporated: 13 December 1983 (42 years old)
Registered office: Waterside, Speedbird Way, Harmondsworth, UB7 0GB, United Kingdom
Nature of business: Scheduled passenger air transport (SIC 51101)
Non-scheduled passenger air transport (SIC 51102)
Service activities incidental to air transportation (SIC 52230)
Cargo handling for air transport activities (SIC 52242)

Directors and company secretaries

Name	Role	Born	Appointed	Other companies
Sean Liam Doyle	Director	Jun 1971	12 Oct 2020	7 other companies
Alison Jane Brittain	Director	Feb 1965	1 Sep 2021	None
Martha Lane-Fox	Director	Feb 1973	1 Nov 2024	None
Sarah Frances Clements	Director	Dec 1970	1 Jun 2026	None
Gabriel Perdiguero De La Torre	Director	Jul 1976	1 Jun 2026	1 other company
Andrew Ian Fleming	Secretary	Not published	11 Oct 2013	–

Other companies run by these 5 directors

A firm is run by people, and their other companies are their track record: what they built, what closed, and anything that failed. It is the check most people never think to make.

other companies: 8
still active: 8
is FCA-registered: 1

In the full report: all 8 companies, named

What each company does, and whether it is still trading
Which of these 5 directors sit on each board, and since when
Any that went into liquidation or administration
The one on the FCA register
All 52 people who have ever been directors, with their dates

Key dates in its history

British Airways’s history from the FCA register and Companies House, newest first.

Key events (4) All events (94)

2016

4 June 2016

International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A took control (75–100% of shares)
Ldc (Ncs) Limited gained 50–75% of the votes

Companies House

2007

10 April 2007

Became an appointed representative

FCA register

1983

13 December 1983

Incorporated at Companies House

Companies House

In the full report: all 94 events

All 94 events in its history (4 shown here)
Every director appointment and resignation: 89

Firms connected to British Airways

Other FCA-listed firms that share a director, phone number or address with British Airways. A link shows who the firm is tied to, not whether either can be trusted.

connected firms: 2
share its postcode: 2

In the full report: all 2 connected firms, named

How each is linked: the same postcode (2)
Who links each one: the named directors, with dates

Get the full report on British Airways

Everything on this page, plus everything locked above, in one dated PDF you can keep, file or send on.

8 other companies its directors have run, named
3 background checks on its contact details
All 94 events in its history
2 connected firms, named, and who links them

Instant PDF One-off payment Secure checkout by Stripe

Frequently asked questions about this firm

Is British Airways PLC FCA authorised?

British Airways PLC (FRN 466424) is not directly authorised. It is an appointed representative acting under the responsibility of a directly authorised principal firm.

What does appointed representative mean for British Airways?

An appointed representative (AR) can carry out regulated financial services, but is not directly authorised by the FCA. A principal firm holds the authorisation and is legally responsible for the AR's conduct. British Airways PLC (FRN 466424) is an AR of AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVICES EUROPE LIMITED (FRN 661836). When you use British Airways's services, the FCA authorisation sits with the principal firm. Example: if you take financial advice from British Airways, complaints and compensation usually follow the same rules as dealing with the principal, but this depends on the product and your circumstances. Before you proceed, confirm contact details match the official FCA register for both firms. Scammers sometimes clone legitimate AR names and FRNs but use fake phone numbers and websites.

What is British Airways’ phone number and website?

The FCA register lists the phone number 07595 680800 and the website britishairways.com for British Airways. If you were given different contact details, use these to check with the firm before going any further.

Is British Airways a scam or clone?

British Airways is a genuine FCA-listed firm, and the FCA has published no warnings about fake versions of it. Scammers do copy real firms, though, so check that any contact details you were given match the ones on the register.

Is my money safe with British Airways?

Protection works through American Express Services Europe Limited, the principal firm responsible for British Airways's regulated activity. FSCS cover and the Financial Ombudsman Service apply as they would to the principal.

Who owns British Airways?

British Airways is owned by International Consolidated Airlines Group S.A, which holds 75–100% of shares, 25–50% of votes and can appoint and remove the board, since 4 June 2016.

Who runs British Airways?

Companies House lists 5 directors of British Airways: Sean Liam Doyle, Alison Jane Brittain, Martha Lane-Fox, Sarah Frances Clements and Gabriel Perdiguero De La Torre.

How long has British Airways been in business?

The company was formed on 13 December 1983.