UPDATE 1-British Airways to cut back on flights in November

(Adds BA comment)

Nov 5 (Reuters) - British Airways will reduce its flight
schedule this month after the UK government put further
restrictions on leisure travel to try to curb the spread of
coronavirus.

"Our focus is on keeping crucial air links open - bringing
home the thousands of customers currently abroad, transporting
vital goods, and ensuring people who are permitted to travel in
and out of the UK for work, education and other reasons
stipulated by the UK Government, can continue to do so," BA said
in a statement.

BA said it would contact customers whose flights are
cancelled to offer refund or rebooking options.

Sky News also reported that BA, part of the International
Consolidated Airlines Group, would furlough more staff
as a result of the changes.

Under new restrictions introduced in England on Thursday,
overseas travel is permitted only for specific purposes such as
work and study for the next four weeks.

The new boss of IAG warned last month he may have to strip
even more costs from the business as a second wave of COVID-19
leaves its airlines staring at a bleak winter with very little
travel.

(Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju
Samuel and David Evans)