Agreement has been reached on new working practices for all 6,000 ground staff involved in the move to London Heathrow's Terminal 5, British Airways announced on May 29.

Willie Walsh, chief executive, said the final staff ballot, by check-in and customer service staff, had shown overwhelming support for new, more efficient ways of working, ahead of the move to British Airways' new home in Terminal 5.

The result followed separate votes in favour of new deals by baggage handlers, loaders, tug drivers, turnround managers, coach drivers and other groups involved in ground operations. Negotiations over working practices have been taking place over the last 18 months.

Mr Walsh said: "Some people claimed that replacing the existing and differing working practices in Terminals 1, 3 and 4 with a new, single efficient way of working for Terminal 5 would lead to disastrous conflict with our trade unions.

"It has not turned out like that. I am delighted we have reached this milestone with the full co-operation of our unions and a workforce that is determined to make Terminal 5 an outstanding success for our customers."

In a speech in London, he said the negotiations over Terminal 5 were just one of the long-standing challenges that the airline had recently resolved.

There had been settlement of the pension fund deficit, disposal of the loss-making regional subsidiary BA Connect and significant progress in cost reduction.

Now the airline could look forward to growth, investment in new aircraft, new services between the USA and Europe, new on-board products and a new exclusive home in Terminal 5.

The chief executive went on: "We are an airline with historical legacies in a highly dynamic industry that rewards the new and the bold."

"We have worked very hard to establish a position where we can innovate quickly and decisively to exploit profitable opportunities as they arise."

"We are there now - and we are ready to move forward."