British Airways (BA) has been forced to contribute an extra £133m (€191m) a year to its two defined-benefit pension schemes following the emergence of shortfalls in their funding arrangements.

The UK national carrier will pay an annual contribution of £26m towards its Airway Pension Scheme from this month. Annual payments to its other main pension scheme, the New Airways Pension Scheme, will increase by £107m to £225m from January next year.