I can't believe how introspective some of you are. Take a look around you boys and girls. Air Canada and NorthWest are downsizing. Continental are retiring their DC-10 fleet to the desert. FeDex and DHL are delaying new aircraft deliveries. Airbus and Boeing are reducing future aircraft delivery forecasts. etc, etc.....
The fact is that there is an economic downturn. When such a downturn occurs revenues fall, in whatever part of aviation your business is concentrated.
So when revenues fall, how do you protect the bottom line? Easy - reduce costs! And, as we all know, the quickest and easiest way to drive costs out of the business is to reduce headcount. It's a route Chief Executives have taken, are taking and will continue to take as long as we have economic cycles.
The nub is where to take out the heads, but then that's over to you Mr Eddington.