It is all very simple actually.
The person we are talking about is an arrogant frustrated person, who is just using the economical downturn as an excuse to offend everybody around him.
Basically, thanks to the recession and thanks to the virtually unlimited cash-flow at his disposition, he does not have to keep up the act anymore and he can be his old self again! Just like 8 years ago.
So there he goes, ranting and raving. He does it in house with all his employees. Pilots are being denied blankets and pillows, descent meals on board, HOTAC downgraded to 3 * all over the network. Cabin crew just lost their overtime pay without any notification.
He even boasted about firing a large amount of pilots just to set an example!
Arrogance without limits....
Nowadays he sees his stupid business model, which he copied from EK, being flushed down the drain. EU sectors are operating on 50% load factors. Premium classes are empty and Gulf sectors are being attacked by the LoCos of the region.
All this is not being helped by a totally retarded commercial department.
Cost what costs they are trying to maintain higher ticket prices than the competition, in a vain effort to yield of the competition.
The statement posted here just shows how frustrated and stupid he really is!
The A321 he is talking about is the laughing stock of the operation. It is an old airplane with 220 seats, sitting idle in Doha as a STBY airplane whenever needed. Every time it is being operated there is almost a revolt under the passengers due to the crap layout and poor AC performance.
For sure it is not a test case for a LOCO operation, it was just a clever idea from a smart a$$ beancounter that back fired heavily!
In a way, QR indeed is almost a LoCo operation. But with the top-heavy management structure of a major airline!
This man knows that, in case the crisis lasts much longer, and the competition is capable of adjusting properly, he and QR do not stand a chance! He had is chance, he blew it, next.....
What continues to surprise me though is the fact that organisations such as IATA and likes continue to give awards to this wannabe aviation manager! Just last week he received an IATA award for passing the IOSA audit! He probably does not even know what IOSA stands for!
Let him start his low cost operation. He will fail miserably and he knows it. Too late....
Imposters are always discovered, sooner or later...