BA has lost over 500 000 000 pounds in the last year. It isn't government supported anymore so where is all the money supposed to come from ?
Obviously the current business model isn't working and major changes are needed for the company to survive.
Look at the competition now compared to twenty years ago. For short flights go on a low cost, for long haul go on middle eastern or asian airlines with their hub and spoke systems. These operators started relatively recently and aren't carrying decades of baggage from a state supported, regulated, monopoly, union dominated past. Most are highly profitable or have oil money behind them.
A passenger wanting to go from Glasgow to Perth Australia can get on Emirates and have an easy one stop through Dubai getting to Australia quicker and easier than BA can manage with transfers in Heathrow and Singapore.
For a weekend in Europe it's hard to justify the cost of full service airlines for a three hour flight when low cost gets you there just as well and you have more spending money at the other end.
With the internet and travel search engines it's easy to find the best deals and compare, then book online. How often do BA top the list on sites such as fly.com ?
Which would you prefer, a shake up in pay and conditions or no job ? In Australia, Ansett wouldn't move into the twentieth century and are now a memory. Swiss Air and Sabena went broke, how many US airlines from the 1970s are still with us today ?
You don't have alot of sympathy from the public, most of which live in the real world without 5* hotels and day dream allowances. You're further alienating your customers by disrupting their travel plans, many of them won't be back after flying with the competition. Little chance of a strike at Emirates disrupting anyones summer holiday, seen how well Singapore Airlines treat their passengers ?
Get back to work and sort out with the management what needs to be done for the companys SURVIVAL. If it goes under how many of you realistically expect to obtain another job with similar conditions. You'll be lucky to be taken on by your competitors on a lot less than BA are offering.
