Andy. BA is not going bust. It will not be bust at the end of the year. We may have a different CEO by the end of the year, but the airline will still be there.
If BA really thought that premium travel was not coming back to previous levels, they would not be making the investment in the new First Class cabin. Crew are continuing to receive Premium training courses, so the upgrade for First must still be on the cards. First travel will recover. True there will not be so many bankers sitting in there, but there are a lot more millionaires around these days.
The blueprint for getting us through a difficult time is no different now than before. If there are too many empty seats, you simply have to cut capacity. BA have not done this quick enough and you have to ask yourself why? Before now First cabins have been closed and crew compliments reduced. Why has this not been done?
The reason is political. The plan was to only offer part time if you transfered to the new fleet. So far this year we have run with a surplus of cabin crew getting loads of 24hr av's, when unpaid leave, part time or VS should have been offered.
Only two 744's have been grounded this year, yet we are taking delivery of 4 new 777-2200ER's. New routes have stated to Saudi, extra service to JNB and new destinations are being added like Las Vegas, Maldives etc. Harldly the moves of an airline about to go bust.
If BA was in such a desperate state, OpenSKies would be grounded and the new LCY/JFK service shelved until the market improves. If you cannot fill the Club cabins in mainline from LHR to JFK, why start a new business only operation in competition with your own product? It does not make sense.
Suddenly there is a change of tack by IFCE. Events have overtaken the master plan and management are playing catch up with the situation. They are doing now what they should have done in January.
Last edited by Stall Pusher; 15th June 2009 at 11:15.