advantage of check-in desks located in Central London.

Starting June 23, British Airways, Qantas and Canadian Airlines passengers will be able to choose their seat on their flight, pick up their boarding card and check their baggage in at Paddington Railway Station at any time on their day of departure.

From Paddington they can then take the high speed Heathrow Express rail link directly to the airport.

This form of check-in is one of ten that the airline offers in London, including telephone and self-service check-in and check-in at the departure gate.

Similar service exists at Victoria Railway Station for passengers flying out of London Gatwick.

Executive vice-president of sales and marketing in the US, Dan Brewin, noted: "We're sure Paddington check-in will get off to a flying start judging by the success of our existing service for Gatwick passengers at Victoria.'' Also the Union Jack is set to be painted on the tail fins of more than half of British Airways' fleet of aircraft.

The move comes as the airline answers its UK market's demand that the airline "fly the flag'' throughout its global service.

BA chief executive Bob Ayling said: "Our customers and employees want British Airways to reflect the culture and heritage of their own countries.

"British Airways is a British-based global airline. The decision we have taken today reflects this reality.'' Mr. Ayling noted that the Union flag was one of the original images launched on Concorde and research has shown it has done consistently well.

"The UK represents 40 percent of our business and our fleet will reflect that,'' he said.

Some 160 aircraft will don the Union Jack in a move that will be incorporated into the existing paint programme which has seen the fleet's tail fins decorated in world images during the past two years.