The Times Online article today gives the distinct impression that BA are not even bothering trying to thinly disguise this as a tax or surcharge, with excerpts like this;

British Airways said the new fuel surcharges would mean that its total revenue for the year to next March should now grow by between 4.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent, up by 0.5 per cent on its previous estimate delivered in May.

and this;

BA has been battling to reduce its costs, cutting staff numbers by 13,000. The airline is also grappling with deficit in its pension fund of more than £1 billion


Ohh, how much i'd love it, if my company introduced a Sporting/Leisure tax on our products to fund my 5% pension contrib.