Glofish
Thanks for your sharing your sympathy, and fears. But this isn't an a380 bashing thread.
It is of course the wrong aircraft right now, but there simply isn't a choice. With the 777 maxed out, and committed to vaccination distribution through 2021 - what else is going to fly passengers? Why do you think the 380 UPL guys are being called back? Because that's all they have! A380s and a380 pilots.
Devising a plan for short-term profitability is off the table, not up for discussion; If it was the 777 would be grounded, and every person in the Group fired while they call it a day for a couple years. You have to look to the future here and thankfully EK has the financial backing and positive outlook to do so.
No-one is claiming that the load factors will have miraculously recovered by Summer. And no-one is suggesting every aircraft comes back at once. It'll be a slow ramp up of flying starting from Summer 21 onwards.
Due to all the factors mentioned previously - what is on the table is a return of decent pax capacity in Summer 2022 - and possibly the Winter season before that due to Expo. That's just 10 months away. EK is part of Dubai, and I wouldn't be surprised if the 'greatest show of our time' extends to EK.
It's about carrying the passengers and brand value over the next few years into future profits - not waiting for fleet change before acting. Hence the massive sunk costs on the acft sterilisation programmes, or the huge efforts to refund pax. Flying earlier to stimulate demand, in coordination with travel&hospitality partners is just part of the same efforts.
They'll just have to accept the a380 for now. And that will need crew back.
It's peoples choice to be bogged down in fear over the present, as it was their choice to be in USD this year because the market was crashing. I've been hearing Pilots claim the ATMs were about to freeze for years now to justify their doomsday positions. They have been soundly shaken out of the markets from fear, and lost big time.
You see, people also have a choice to not be afraid - to assess the indicators and look to the future. People could have predicted 4-5 years before the industry naturally recovers back in March - purely from uncertainty - but now, things have changed and it's time to bring those predictions forward.
A little positivity, I think, is warranted. Happy Holidays
