To all those crew and staff affected by the loss of XL, my heart goes out to you!
looks like good old Richard's got his tuppens worth in for publicity. And clearly doesn't have a clue what he's on about!!
From BBC News:
Virgin head Sir Richard Branson has called for a review of the rules governing airlines.
He said planes grounded by the failure of their parent companies should be allowed to fly under the watch of the aviation regulator.
He claimed this would reduce disruption across the industry.
"It does not make sense for aircraft to be lying idle at UK airports when they should be used to bring back stranded passengers of that airline," he said.
As I would understand it those aircraft would effectively be flying without an AOC. And who would crew the aircraft, exactly? He should know that SEP equipment locations and uses vary widely across airlines so there's no argument that any cabin crew could operate on them? Also where would the insurance for the pax, crew and airframe come from? Who's SOPs would they operate under? Clearly the man is either deluded or a media whore? Wonder which??
Richard Branson . . . the Michael O'Leary of the full-fare schedule carriers?