mensaboy
27th Feb 2010, 18:20
I am curious to read what EK pilots view as the short-to-medium term prospects for Emirates Airline.
(The issues regarding quality of life, Terms and Conditions, FTL's and a myriad of other negative changes will in all probability decline further and almost without a doubt there will not be any positive changes in those regards either, so please leave those issues to another thread)
What of the overall future for EK?
History shows that EK has always benefited from events which have negatively affected other airlines but will that trend continue?
This time... EK management has caused the turmoil while in the past, events outside the control of EK have been the root cause, and much to EK's credit, they usually took advantage of those events. There is no group of employees at this company who have a positive outlook on their present circumstances and even worse, most Emirates employees I have talked to recently, predict further declines. It seems implausible that in this instance, our management will be capable of taking an introspective look at their undeniable mismanagement of employees over the past 2 years.
Granted there are two groups, our top managers and those chosen to meet the quota for the Emiratization of this airline, who seem oblivious to the general morale and quality of life of the rest of us employees.
This is what I figure. EK might 'luck-out' yet again, and several more airlines will teeter on the brink of bankruptcy, and those airline's unfortunate employees will not heed the warnings about life at EK in Dubai, so the impending manpower disaster will not continue. Then, since no aircraft will be parked, management will not address the problems they have caused.
Or, something traumatic will happen on the world-wide scene, similar to past events such as SARS, a ME war, 9/11 or something else unpredictable. In this instance, pilots might stop leaving EK in droves, simply due to job security. Such an event will give our management team yet another excuse for their unwise decisions and the status quo will remain in effect.
Or, this might actually turn out to be the perfect storm for EK. Most employees at Emirates Airline have little confidence and respect for their respective managers, let alone the overall management of this airline, so even if they make some wise decisions in the short-term, in the long-term, NO ONE believes management has our best interests in mind.
This airline is committed to aircraft deliveries and since a large part of their business model is based on continued expansion, the wheels could fall off quite rapidly if they can't attract suitable employees for critical jobs or the predicted growth rate for ME airlines does not transpire.
Since EK's success is so interconnected with Dubai's success, in the past we had the luxury of full government support to be successful. But now, the tables have turned and EK is supporting Dubai and not the other way around. Decisions that are best for EK in the long run, might not be made because Dubai will mandate decisions that are best for Dubai in the short term.
Here are some facts which lead me to believe that this last hypothesis has become more likely.
-Dubai is in trouble and will continue to be in trouble for the foreseeable future
-Emirates Airline has a serious morale problem which has not been addressed properly. In fact, the management technique of 'fear and intimidation' is showing signs of back-firing.
-In the worst economic climate in almost a century, and one of the worst world-wide environments for the pilot profession, EK is losing pilots at an alarming rate (it is inexplicable without recognizing how poorly employees are treated at this airline)
-EK has Emiratized itself to the point there are many people in positions of authority, who have little insight, abilities and proper management styles to be able to comprehend or let alone address issues. (DW and Nakheel come to mind as examples)
-EK is still profitable. But that has come at a price, which is the good-will of its employees
-Long-term, work rates of pilots, CC and engineers (3 of the most important job classifications in any airline), are unsustainable
-EK has avoided, by the narrowest of margins in 3 instances, a major disaster. Will that trend continue? Hopefully... but anyone would be a fool to predict that.
-Sentiment towards Dubai has changed on the local and world-wide scene. Dare I say it, sentiment towards EK could change in a heartbeat as well
-This is ZERO indication from our mismanagement team that #1 there is even a problem and #2 that things will ever change
It is PEOPLE who make an airline successful and EK has lost sight of this fact
-the recent and future predicted ''shake-up'' of the flight ops management team, has been disguised as normal attrition.
Ed is leaving, thankfully, but he will replaced by another sycophant. The FMA departed, and although it was quietly announced months ago, he was gone long before airbus pilots stopped emailing him regarding things such as the B777 transition fiasco. M, the big cheese, is rumored to be on his way to a comfy 'retirement' home. TC, will be shifted to M's previous job as the ceremonial spokesman for the airline. AAR, well who the hell knows what his future holds and how much damage he will continue to cause to this airline.
-so take a look at the recent replacements. MM appeared to be an honest, intelligent and professional choice but already those initial views of him are changing. He is likely on the fast-track to promotion and naturally this will bring out his worst qualities. The FMA replacement, by all accounts, was the worst choice imaginable and IMHO, this viewpoint will be proven correct over the following few months.
EK has proven over time, that when things get tough, management gets tougher on its employees. There is one SINGULAR thing that will cause our management team to alter things to the benefit of the employees, and that is when aircraft 'might' be parked and not out there making money.
Bottom line is this... if planes continue to fly, EK continues to receive the odd award for inflight something or other, and there is no major catastrophy, then things will not change.
I am of the view that this airline has but a few months to avoid an inevitable long-term decline. If any present pilots at EK have more information and insight, pls take the time to make a post here. I don't want to be the last rat leaving this sinking ship, haha.
(The issues regarding quality of life, Terms and Conditions, FTL's and a myriad of other negative changes will in all probability decline further and almost without a doubt there will not be any positive changes in those regards either, so please leave those issues to another thread)
What of the overall future for EK?
History shows that EK has always benefited from events which have negatively affected other airlines but will that trend continue?
This time... EK management has caused the turmoil while in the past, events outside the control of EK have been the root cause, and much to EK's credit, they usually took advantage of those events. There is no group of employees at this company who have a positive outlook on their present circumstances and even worse, most Emirates employees I have talked to recently, predict further declines. It seems implausible that in this instance, our management will be capable of taking an introspective look at their undeniable mismanagement of employees over the past 2 years.
Granted there are two groups, our top managers and those chosen to meet the quota for the Emiratization of this airline, who seem oblivious to the general morale and quality of life of the rest of us employees.
This is what I figure. EK might 'luck-out' yet again, and several more airlines will teeter on the brink of bankruptcy, and those airline's unfortunate employees will not heed the warnings about life at EK in Dubai, so the impending manpower disaster will not continue. Then, since no aircraft will be parked, management will not address the problems they have caused.
Or, something traumatic will happen on the world-wide scene, similar to past events such as SARS, a ME war, 9/11 or something else unpredictable. In this instance, pilots might stop leaving EK in droves, simply due to job security. Such an event will give our management team yet another excuse for their unwise decisions and the status quo will remain in effect.
Or, this might actually turn out to be the perfect storm for EK. Most employees at Emirates Airline have little confidence and respect for their respective managers, let alone the overall management of this airline, so even if they make some wise decisions in the short-term, in the long-term, NO ONE believes management has our best interests in mind.
This airline is committed to aircraft deliveries and since a large part of their business model is based on continued expansion, the wheels could fall off quite rapidly if they can't attract suitable employees for critical jobs or the predicted growth rate for ME airlines does not transpire.
Since EK's success is so interconnected with Dubai's success, in the past we had the luxury of full government support to be successful. But now, the tables have turned and EK is supporting Dubai and not the other way around. Decisions that are best for EK in the long run, might not be made because Dubai will mandate decisions that are best for Dubai in the short term.
Here are some facts which lead me to believe that this last hypothesis has become more likely.
-Dubai is in trouble and will continue to be in trouble for the foreseeable future
-Emirates Airline has a serious morale problem which has not been addressed properly. In fact, the management technique of 'fear and intimidation' is showing signs of back-firing.
-In the worst economic climate in almost a century, and one of the worst world-wide environments for the pilot profession, EK is losing pilots at an alarming rate (it is inexplicable without recognizing how poorly employees are treated at this airline)
-EK has Emiratized itself to the point there are many people in positions of authority, who have little insight, abilities and proper management styles to be able to comprehend or let alone address issues. (DW and Nakheel come to mind as examples)
-EK is still profitable. But that has come at a price, which is the good-will of its employees
-Long-term, work rates of pilots, CC and engineers (3 of the most important job classifications in any airline), are unsustainable
-EK has avoided, by the narrowest of margins in 3 instances, a major disaster. Will that trend continue? Hopefully... but anyone would be a fool to predict that.
-Sentiment towards Dubai has changed on the local and world-wide scene. Dare I say it, sentiment towards EK could change in a heartbeat as well
-This is ZERO indication from our mismanagement team that #1 there is even a problem and #2 that things will ever change
It is PEOPLE who make an airline successful and EK has lost sight of this fact
-the recent and future predicted ''shake-up'' of the flight ops management team, has been disguised as normal attrition.
Ed is leaving, thankfully, but he will replaced by another sycophant. The FMA departed, and although it was quietly announced months ago, he was gone long before airbus pilots stopped emailing him regarding things such as the B777 transition fiasco. M, the big cheese, is rumored to be on his way to a comfy 'retirement' home. TC, will be shifted to M's previous job as the ceremonial spokesman for the airline. AAR, well who the hell knows what his future holds and how much damage he will continue to cause to this airline.
-so take a look at the recent replacements. MM appeared to be an honest, intelligent and professional choice but already those initial views of him are changing. He is likely on the fast-track to promotion and naturally this will bring out his worst qualities. The FMA replacement, by all accounts, was the worst choice imaginable and IMHO, this viewpoint will be proven correct over the following few months.
EK has proven over time, that when things get tough, management gets tougher on its employees. There is one SINGULAR thing that will cause our management team to alter things to the benefit of the employees, and that is when aircraft 'might' be parked and not out there making money.
Bottom line is this... if planes continue to fly, EK continues to receive the odd award for inflight something or other, and there is no major catastrophy, then things will not change.
I am of the view that this airline has but a few months to avoid an inevitable long-term decline. If any present pilots at EK have more information and insight, pls take the time to make a post here. I don't want to be the last rat leaving this sinking ship, haha.