Wiggy
Actually, I thought "Stall Pushers" comments on Aer Lingus were the most illuminating in terms of failing to understand airline economics. EI remains a high cost airline even after several rounds of cutting and reorganisation. It remains highly unionised and relatively rigid in terms of work practices. It will run out of cash very soon unless air travel picks up again. They've just suspended a good proportion of their long haul flights for the duration of their summer timetable. What happens to staff not required as a result? I suspect they get paid a lot less, or nothing. Ryanair has few of these problems, certainly no shortage of cash yet, even though they are now having to pay more to attract staff. That's just because they are getting bigger.
Walsh may have his faults, and the T5 fiasco did reflect badly on him. However, he previously did a pretty good job in repositioning EI to compete with FR. He left because he was frustrated by a shareholder (the Irish government) that could not finance EI's clear need for investment in a new fleet, but would not divest the airline into private ownership where the necessary funds could be raised. The main point, though, is he knows the threat FR pose, and what has to be done to counter it. From what I can see, he's not exactly pushing to match FR, with things like 20 minute turnrounds on short haul for instance.
How about this as the ultimate nightmare for ALL BA staff, I'd suggest: FR bid for BA? Far-fetched? Well with €2 billion in the bank, FR could offer cash for BA and have change left over, though any bid would be stock or stock/some cash. Aer Lingus gave them some "practice" in corporate activity, something they'd not done before. Also, FR now know EXACTLY the parameters the EU will use to judge if a takeover is anti-competitive. The only problem the EU had with the FR/EI deal was the dominance of slots at DUB. Any FR/BA link would free up slots at LHR, so good for competition. Would FR do it? I doubt it. They're more likely to build long haul capability at Stansted, and use/grow their short haul network flying there to fill the planes. Then maybe roll out to their continental bases and do the same? Who knows? The EI thing was apparently a very opportunistic move, not something they'd planned for ages during the EI privatisation.
The point, though, is that there are worse things than BA's revised CC T&Cs I suspect, and FR is definitely in that category. Incidentally, I avoid FR if I can, even if I pay a bit more. I also avoid BA since I moved to Ireland. That's more to do with the dump of an airport you use as a base. LHR is a disgrace. I'm sure T5 is great if you fly in/transit/fly out from there, but having to transfer from Domestic T1 is a nightmare. And I've always had fantastic in-flight service from BA without any exception (and I was a Gold Card holder so no shortage of flights!). So CC may be hacked off with BA, but I have to say none ever took it out on the passengers, though some (pax) definitely deserved it!