Former government minister Brian Wilson is calling for a boycott of British Airways if ground staff in Scotland face redundancy or loss of conditions because of a proposed takeover.

Former government minister Brian Wilson is calling for a boycott of British Airways if ground staff in Scotland face redundancy or loss of conditions because of a proposed takeover.

Flybe is looking to take over BA Connect's regional services and a review of the implications for more than 400 ground staff is under way.

"Over many years as a regular passenger, both domestically and internationally, I have remained loyal to BA, in the face of many provocations, for one reason above all - the helpfulness and professionalism of their Scottish-based staff. To see these people being treated so cavalierly is deeply offensive and unnecessary," he writes in The Herald today.

"My personal commitment is that if BA go ahead with their plans to replace their Glasgow Airport personnel with staff employed by a service company on inferior wages and conditions, I will endeavour to use any airline other than BA for both domestic and long-haul travel."

A spokesman for BA said the Flybe takeover was still subject to company law and consultation with unions had not even begun on any review of the position of ground staff.

"If Mr Wilson has concerns he wants to address with BA, we would be happy to meet him to discuss these," he said.