Why is British Airways talking about music and sustainability this month?
This September, British Airways celebrates musicians worldwide and five years of the BA Better World programme. Here’s the lowdown…
02/09/2026
The musicians of Sinfonia Smith Square in rehearsal (Sophie Oliver). Opening image: a rousing performance (Joseph Lynn)
Supporting musicians across the world
This summer, British Airways is stepping up as Official Airline Partner of Sinfonia Smith Square, which provides fellowship programmes to develop the musical careers of graduate musicians. Each year, 34 talented people from across the world participate in Sinfonia Smith Square’s intensive programme in London. With this new partnership, British Airways will cover the cost and logistics of travel, providing vital support to bring these world-class young musicians to London for a life-changing ten-month fellowship. The partnership highlights another chapter in British Airways’ ongoing commitment to the arts and culture, following recent partnerships including American Express presents BST Festival, the BRIT School and the celebration of 75 years of the Wexford Festival Opera.
A Mototok aircraft tug manoeuvres a British Airways Airbus A320neo in BA Better World livery
Five years of BA Better World
The BA Better World sustainability programme launched in 2021, and British Airways is proud of what it’s achieved so far but knows it has much more work to do.
British Airways has reduced its carbon intensity by 14 per cent since 2019, is operating 4.5 per cent sustainable aviation fuels (SAF)* and has removed more than 400 tonnes of single-use plastic since 2022.** Plus, via the BA Better World Community Fund and customer contributions, the airline has supported more than 400 UK-based charities and projects.
As part of this programme, British Airways continues to remove access barriers during the travel experience. Recent developments include the launch and extension of an accessibility advisory panel, voluntary dementia e-learning for colleagues (from the airline’s long-term partner Alzheimer’s Society) and Hearlo, an app for customers with communication challenges.
With all this achieved in the past five years, British Airways continues to focus on where it can make the biggest impact for customers and society in the future. Find out how you can make a difference here.
*‘Sustainable Aviation Fuels’ (‘SAF’) are defined in the Refuel EU Aviation Regulation as aviation fuels that are either synthetic aviation fuels, aviation biofuels or recycled carbon aviation fuels. For further information, see the Planet page.
**Representing 20 per cent of BA’s baseline.
