The aim will be to match the convenience of the “three clicks and you can check out” approach of online retailing pioneered by the likes of Amazon, he said.

People taking a family holiday are likely to continue to use the website, but the app should become the primary resource for those making regular trips, such as business travellers.

Mr Doyle said: “The most important thing about an app is that the repeatable processes, that people rely on time and time and time again, work well.”

The digital upgrade will also allow travellers to undertake every single transaction online, compared with about 70pc today, he said. That will include the ability to rebook, claim a refund and cancel flights.

British Airways will seek to avoid the pitfalls experienced by US ally American Airlines, where a new system aimed at maximising direct bookings and reducing reliance on intermediaries generated less revenue than expected owing to its complexity.

The slip-up, which hurt late bookings from corporate travellers, sent American Airlines shares down 16pc last Wednesday and led to the exit of its chief commercial officer.

BA has also boosted the workforce at its London Heathrow hub by 400 people compared with 2019 in an effort to reduce flight delays.

Mr Doyle said: “We’re putting in a lot of resource and implementing a new model there which is really beginning to drive an improvement in punctuality and operational resilience.”

The airline is also deploying AI in an effort to improve the efficiency of its maintenance operations, by helping to more accurately predict when planes will develop issues requiring a shop visit. This means parts can be ordered well in advance, minimising downtime.