To the HKG Media
To the HK Media -
You know well that the CX Pilots are off discussing their grievences on a secure web so avoid declaring their true colours to the Management or indeed the media. But after some disgraceful behaviour by so called professionals I feel compelled to tell you some of the self-centred and sometimes pathetic views of my fellow (?)pilots.
The fact is that many of the crew believe CX has an almost unlimited cash reserves to tide them over and still give them a increased salary and are prepared to terminally wound the company in the process. They have no regard for any of the other professionals in the company and increasingly show total disregard to the Cabin crew, gound staff and office members who all form part of the product that CX has to offer.
This posting was prompted by the crew of a recent flight where one 'North American' and one 'African' who showed themselves to be self centred and utterly ignorant of facts.
They thought cash means safety or job security. They think that the fact that CX still has aircraft on order means they can afford whatever the Pilots demand. What they show is how they fail to understand the way airlines work even though they quickly criticise management.
The facts are:
Airlines can only see booking trends forward about 3-4 months. True there are traditional peaks like Christamas, New Year/Chinese New year, School holidays and general trends related to an economic growth or decline. But in real terms passenger traffic is a very short term business and more so with business/first class passengers which can be down to mere days. To do this 'any' airline has to make long term comitmments in aircraft purchases, (or leases) and secure the people to have them operate.
In normal times projections can be generally made until Sept 11 that is. Now the rules have changed. After this date traffic just dried up, for everyone but all the commitments are there in aicraft and people including pilots. Aircraft are on order, leases have to be paid.
Incredibly some misguided CX pilots think this means CX is fine and can afford their outrageous claims. This proves Pilots should not be management and stick to flying. The bills still need to be paid. Low yeild traffic does not pay bills it merely enables you to mark time - sometimes.
Cut routes and schedule frequency and suddenly even lower fares dont pay the bills and so the cash dries up. This is what is happening in the US. Some carriers are close to having no funds to keep going beyond the next 30 days. Maybe the US Government and EU will bail out to a degree but CX dont have that luxuary.
Add to this massive increase in insurance costs and so what might have been a period of recession is fast looking like Armagedon for Airlines. The deaths of AN, SR Sabena and many staff cuts like Aer Lingus slicing off 40% of its labour force is a clear and obvious sign all is not well to everyone EXCEPT to CX Pilots. There are none so blind as those who will not see!
Still the CX pilots believe their case is just and press on like lemmings along with their Union. A union which is headed by a person who is fresh from the Arthur Scargill school of Deathwish Unionists and have a President who actually wants to get another Union job and tried to hijack this dispute to further his own career, not those of the Membership. 'They' are the terrorists in our midst and soon this will be seen as what they are.
Now is the time to turn ones back on these misguided leaders and get back to what we do well which is deliver an on time, quality product. There are thousand of others in CX who know the truth, yet you dont. There are thousands who know we are the best paid, in a low tax environment by the way - ever paid Canadian tax my friend; are provided accomodation with great conditions and yet you dont. There are thousands who want to keep their jobs yet you want to destroy their lives. There are thousands who have mortgages and no 'bolt hold' back in Australia the UK or Canada, yet you do.
The fact is that the pilots are now a broken force having fallen on the sword with no support and little hope of winning anything. They try openly to destroy the life of others. They have no moral ground - not an inch to stand on. They lost the war long before the first battle and do not know. Sept 11 only shut the door on the folly.
AOA RIP - long may you be confined to the dustbin of labour relations beter forgotten history. This industry could see 200,000 loss their jobs and the desert in Mojave now has over 150 aircraft stored.
And still the CX crews think things are great. Get a life....
Boeing Boeing
Must fly, have schedule to keep.