Middle managers at Companies A, B, C can all crow about how much they’re now saving on travel.
Right now it seems like an obvious win because everyone’s grounded.
Until Company D decides to get on the plane, and poaches that big account. And suddenly, everyone’s back travelling again.
Maintaining relationships and taking honest feedback is crucial in big business.
Otherwise, watch your logos churn without giving a moments thought about you.
Business travel will be back, not immediately, but it’ll work itself out.[/QUOTE
You just don’t get it do you? Who pays for all these business seats? Look at the companies (outside aviation) that are doing very well and look at the ones who are doing poorly. The ones who are doing well on average) are ones that negate air travel (or any travel) save for direct delivery of goods and services. The ones that are doing poorly (on average) are the ‘traditional’ industries whom *traditionally* have had to fly people all over the place. I totally agree that you can’t beat face to face meetings - in some, mainly relationship driven interactions - but they are becoming fewer. As Jeff Bezos said, “Their margin is my opportunity.” meaning; in the digital world EVERYONE has to squeeze their margins and that means companies stopping non-ESSENTIAL travel. Yes, perhaps the head of a project for instance will fly out to win or ‘seal the deal’ based on a tonne of remote working by large teams, BUT he won’t be taking twenty people with him...they’ll join the meeting remotely, from home, worrying about the dog barking. This isn’t a binary issue, it is one of scale and those middle-managers crowing over savings will, in all likelihood, make the savings, smell the coffee, work from home in a non-traditional industry..or at least a traditional industry that has kept pace - adapted. So, British aviation WILL survive. It will, however, need to adapt to survive and that means taking this current crisis/opportunity by the scruff of its neck. You can always scale up later if the internet breaks and everyone feels the need to jump on a plane.