Nearly 7,000 British Airways staff have volunteered to work for free, saving the struggling business a projected £10 million in the next three to six months.

Management at BA proposed the voluntary scheme earlier this month to save money during the current tough economic period. Staff had the option to take between one and four weeks’ unpaid leave or work unpaid, with the pay reduction spread over three to six months. Initially the scheme was for staff to take unpaid leave but a spokeswoman for the company said that employees suggested working unpaid for one month.