Does BA's announced operating profit,put the current negotiations in a new light?The fight for survival,seems to have elapsed.maybe the cabin crew do not now have to conceed so many benefits to help the company survive the economic downturn.Airbus executives stated at the singapore airshow that they expect passenger numbers to return to pre-economic downturn levels this year,therefore increasing demand significantly.
combined with oil at $75 a barrel,as opposed to $140 a year ago,all is looking well for the commercial airline market
Yep, all is well. Nothing to see here.
Oh, other than
- collapse in transatlantic premium yield
- price of oil set to rise due to economic recovery (more demand, 'finite' resource, higher price)
- aging, uncompetitive fleet
- aircraft configuration inflexible, relying on "the money run"
- inflexible and uneconomic manpower arrangements
- excessive taxation of air travel in home market
- inflexible operations at main hub airport
- aggressive competition on all routes (European, Asia, Down under, North Atlantic)
- massive pension deficit
- challenging but necessary merger yet to occur.
Yep, rosy.