COMPUTERS, computers, computers.

They have just caused a catastrophic disaster on the reputation of British Airways - which was, but getting less so, the premier flagship air carrier of the world.

The fact that they use ‘British’ in their title makes it even more embarrassing and humiliating, particularly coming up to Brexit.

As I repeatedly say, computers are not fit for purpose and are dangerous for some of the enormous tasks we give them.

This will cost BA millions in damages. Never mind British Airways using a fancy name like “outage”. Where were - at least - two other backups to bring the system on line?

Pathetic. For the hundreds of thousands of customers affected, their travel arrangements have been ruined with this misery.

Senior BA management - on vast salaries - let ordinary staff face the wrath of outraged passengers and not put themselves forward to face them or a hostile media asking difficult questions.

Where was the chairman and CEO of BA, Alex Cruz?

He decided to save money outsourcing the IT system to India and cut the niceties of onboard service.

I think the word ‘outage’ should apply in his case - and without millions of pounds in a golden parachute deal.

I only hope that Mr McDonald stayed on his farm at Nether Poppleton (Letters, May 19) and had not booked a flight with BA.

Keith Massey, Bishopthorpe, York