British Airways may sell headquarters due to reduced need for office space

British Airways is considering selling its headquarters building due to the dwindling need for office space after a shift to working from home.

As many of its employees enjoy working from home, British Airways plans a flexible mix of home and office working.

The BA complex, Waterside, near Heathrow Airport, west of London, was completed in 1998 for $279 million. It is also the headquarters of British Airways parent company, IAG.

The sale could boost the airline’s pandemic-hammered finances.

Other UK companies are also making changes to their office footprints, with banking giant Lloyds eyeing to cut office space by 20 percent within three years, and HSBC targeting a 40 percent reduction.

To survive the pandemic, British Airways has been cutting costs, including shedding over 10,000 employees. Many of its remaining 30,000 employees, such as pilots, engineers, cabin crew, or airport staff, don’t work in the office.

The airline also sold famous artworks hung in its executive lounges to raise cash.

The building's future was already hanging in the balance and maybe demolished if the proposed Heathrow expansion pushes through.