Ansett,TAA and the good old days!
Remember the times years ago when we had a two airline policy, a duopoly and a regulated airline enviroment?. .. .Times were good weren't they? The airlines were healthy, a good place to work. We all pulled together in our respective airline. We overnighted together in Darwin, Cairns, Alice Springs , Adelaide and Perth.. .. .TAA and Ansett together with wit and repartee.Both flying the same A/C type .Both departing the next day within 5 minutes of each other. The biggest challenge being who would taxi out first! Only the colour of the shirts was the difference between us!. .. .Then the " tree huggers " and the " bleeding hearts " came on the scene closely followed by the " economic rationalists " , the republicans and the ' free trade " theorists!. .. .We must deregulate they said, introduce competition, lower air fares and provide air travel to the lowest common denominator!. .. .Well, we have been doing that for 12 years now! . .. .And what a gigantic cock up it has been!!. .. .Now at last we are back to the good old days. Two airlines in Australia...albeit one of them catering to the lowest common denominator, mores the pity.. .. .The days when airline flying was for the privileged and the elite are far gone unfortunately. The days when as a pilot , hostess, flight engineer,lame, traffic clerk, baggage handler etc we all pulled together..all gone , and we all know why!. .. .But , in a quasi return to those days we will see Virgin replacing Ansett in competition with "TAA". Hopefully the end of ridiculous fares, perhaps the return of a little bit of class and even the return of some of the "couth and and grace " of passengers of old!. .. .If only!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 15 March 2002, 09:39: Message edited by: amos2 ]</small>