dba Ceases Operation

[txl]

German carrier dba, a former British Airways subsidiary ("Deutsche BA") owned by Air Berlin since 2006, ceases operation this Saturday, the company said. The airline's shutdown was originally slated for end of the month. Air Berlin crews and aircraft are set to take over scheduled flights. Six remaining dba aircraft will be used only when needed.

The premature end comes after a row with unions about terms for dba crews to be taken over by Air Berlin. About 80 cabin crew members went on a preliminary strike on Friday, according to news reports. Five flights were delayed for hours and one cancelled, the airline said.

About 300 cockpit and cabin crew are affected by the airline's closure. They're supposed to accept less favourable conditions working for Air Berlin. Unions and airline are continuing to negotiate terms.

[BYALPHAINDIA]

They won't be accepting any conditions now.

[rubik101]

So how is the treatment by Hr. Hunold of the unionised pilots of DBA any different from the treatment that is threatened by Mr. O'Leary to the pilots who attempt to unionise Ryanair?
Trouble makers, sack them, Qed.
Sad to say, but this is just another alarm call in the process of waking up and seeing that this type of management behaviour, however disreputable and immoral we think it is, is becoming the industry standard.

[Admiral346]

I am sad for the colleagues at dba to have fallen prey to the Kraken Hunold.

But to say that a couple of airlines ruled on 1890 style capitalism are the "industry standard" is a bit far fetched.

It is actually illegal in Germany to keep workers from organizing. So if hard proof can be found that stuff like this is going on at Air Berlin the management would lose in court. The problem seems to be that they find some other excuse to fire people...

Good luck -

Nic

[cockney steve]

Sad to say, but this is just another alarm call in the process of waking up and seeing that this type of management behaviour, however disreputable and immoral we think it is, is becoming the industry standard.

That's the nub of the matter.....the management's job is to make money.
To do that, they have to have a market and unfortunately, there are a lot more seats flying around, than punters willing to pay the asking price to fill them.

I'm sure a lot of airlines would love to pay their staff top-whack with first-rate employment conditions, to retain loyalty and company prestige.
unfortunately, the "cost no object" punters have a plethora of scheduled alternatives plus the exec. jets ,charter, shared ownership etc. which were onlya dream 20 years ago.
The reality is that the vast majority is now in the "prole" category-crammed in ,max payload at a CAREFULLY PITCHED price-level which ensures the best net return per flight.

Like it or not, the loco end of the market is magnitudes bigger than the top-end-the industry still has too much capacity,flying is no longer the perogative of the wealthy.

Your status,jobs,pay and conditions cannot get better until there is a world shortage of seats, thus re-creating a premium.

sorry, it won't happen as long as Ryan, Easy et al see a niche and you're prepared to staff their business.

[His dudeness]

DBA's lucky even to have lasted this long. Didn't make a penny for BA from what I recall

Were they meant to do so? From what I recall BA wanted to tease Lufthansa...and therefore pumped a lot of money into DBA.
However aparently they were making money before being sold to AB.

[Jock Watson]

Ref the comments about dba not making a profit when BA were in charge.When the Company was owned by BA and run by BA they insisted on leasing aircraft from BA owned Leasing Companies at +40percent of the open market rate. Furthermore BA had to do the ground handling also at exorbitant charges way above the market rate.So, although the 'Deutsche BA' brand didn't appear to make a profit BA did. Losses could also be set against BA profits denying the Tax man his cut.
When BA offloaded DBA to Worle and paid him about 75 million for his purchase price of 1 euro and the Company shopped on the open market it, by magic ,became profitable. So there.The fact that Worle then trousered the profits on sale to Air Berlin shows how capitalism works.By the way he also reduced Pilot salaries by 25 percent on a take it or leave basis.So much for German Labour Laws. Experienced Employers will always find a way around them.
Having enjoyed 11 years flying as Capt with Deutsche BA and dba I'm very sorry for my ex colleagues plight. However, one door closes and another opens. Hals und bine brochen.

[GBALU53]

Ubions
The unions must realise in the currant climate is it better for STAFF to at least have a job than no job at all?
The way aviation is at the moment around the world. if crews need to be taken on there are a lot out there hunting to get back in the saddle?