Check in times could be cut to 30 minutes and flight connections to 45 minutes when BA moves into the new Terminal Five at Heathrow in March 2008.
In a briefing to staff, ceo Rod Eddington said the move gave the airline a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to update its working practices.
When the moves comes, it will be the first time for many years that the airline, now spread over Heathrow's Terminals One, Three and Four, will be all in the same building.
In his briefing, Mr Eddington outlined to senior staff his business plan for 2005-2007. The three main points were: getting fit for Five, investment in products and people and working to a 10% margin for re-investment.
A spokesperson said the airline's aim was to “get into the best possible shape to take advantages of the opportunities that Terminal Five will bring us.”
The second point was aimed at training staff and investing in the airline's various brands. The third aimed to provide the carrier with a 10% operating margin which could be ploughed back into the airline and also reward staff.
Mr Eddington told senior staff that the plan was based on “modest growth” but he warned that the airline had to do more than just increase its revenue from more sales. It also still had to make reductions in costs.
But he admitted there were difficulties in achieving the planned £300m cuts in employee costs by 2006 and this would now be delayed until 2007. This was due to last year's pay talks and staff disputes over manning levels.
The airline was also facing increased cost on pensions and fuel as well as tough competition on the North Atlantic route and from Middle East carriers on routes to Asia.