Yahoo!!
As Sir George says "bean counters cannot ever run airports", I thoroughly agree. Its a shame that bean counters still run airlines aswell. But if EGNH turns around and gets more flights and pays better salaries to the staff then, well what can I say. What we need in the aviation business is qualified aviation personnel with good business/sales professionals running the business, who can be advised by the accountants on financial issues.
For example, let's look at council run airports. Firstly, who are the councillors, my mum who has never run a business, local shop keeper, young newly graduated student who is ambitious, retired doctor,(basically anybody). What I'm trying to say that governing body have no experience of running an airport. Secondly, this means that if the bean counters present profitable accounts to the council then they don't know any different. Therefore this rules the council out of any input as they don't understand. This then leaves the airport management to run the airport as they desire. As long as there are profits then all OK. The annual accounts do not realisticly show shortage of staff, overtime to cover shortages, low staff morale, lack of past/present/future sales, u/s equipment due lack of money, these are a few examples. What I'm trying to say that it is easy for the bean counters to pull the wool over the councils eyes and say what a fine job they are doing. When the truth is they are only trying to look good and protect their jobs.
Finally, in business if you continually to show profits by taking it out on the staff (which most aviation businesses do), then soon your staff will leave and there will be no business, (look at Aviance).
Good discussion.