BRITISH Airways is to sell its 7,300-vehicle airport-side ground fleet services division to vehicle rental, contract hire and distribution services company Ryder for an undisclosed sum. The deal, part of BA's drive to improve services and reduce costs by £1 billion over the next three years from all parts of its operation, takes in towbars, aeroplane steps, tugs and other mobile machinery as well as some crew buses.

Ground fleet services currently employs 500 staff based at Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Under the terms of the sale and leaseback deal Slough-based Ryder is to be awarded, subject to finalising the purchase agreement, a five-year contract to operate and maintain the fleet. The Ryder network worldwide includes 1,100 locations and more than 200,000 commercial vehicles.