Irish PM has a go at Willie Walsh
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Irish PM has a go at Willie Walsh
Please refer to the attached link from the RTE website:
http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/0517/aerlingus.html
It would appear that WW and the Irish PM will not be exchanging christmas cards this year. Basically the gist of the piece is that Willie sought to make a fortune out of the proposed privatisation of Aer Lingus without much regard for anyone else.
http://www.rte.ie/business/2006/0517/aerlingus.html
It would appear that WW and the Irish PM will not be exchanging christmas cards this year. Basically the gist of the piece is that Willie sought to make a fortune out of the proposed privatisation of Aer Lingus without much regard for anyone else.
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Dublin
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hehehe...This is funny.
Well who can blame Willie, I reckon any executive in the position would have done the same not that it is the right thing to do!
I doubt he could get away with it in BA though, its already privatised!
Well who can blame Willie, I reckon any executive in the position would have done the same not that it is the right thing to do!
I doubt he could get away with it in BA though, its already privatised!
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is tied to the news that the Aer Lingus privatisation has been postponed until the autumn.
I said it at the time, and I say it again, Willy was out to line his pockets. Now Bertie has said it again too.
Walsh's refusal to expand the airline after the recovery has led to the current mess - aircraft could've been picked up for nearly nothing in 2002 but he didn't want to take on any debt which would be on the balance sheet when it fell into his lap.
Willy was more interested in breaking the unions and destroying all opposition to his future O'Leary-like dictatorship than in growing the company.
That said - he did so with full backing of the government, led by our hero Bertie.
I said it at the time, and I say it again, Willy was out to line his pockets. Now Bertie has said it again too.
Walsh's refusal to expand the airline after the recovery has led to the current mess - aircraft could've been picked up for nearly nothing in 2002 but he didn't want to take on any debt which would be on the balance sheet when it fell into his lap.
Willy was more interested in breaking the unions and destroying all opposition to his future O'Leary-like dictatorship than in growing the company.
That said - he did so with full backing of the government, led by our hero Bertie.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Thrid rock from the sun
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mosquito Willie
Well.
Perhaps this explains the speedy departure. Obviously the main artery of BA`s pension plan is a better feeding ground for his probiscus. Juicy sucking to be done there. I hope Bertie hangs out the dirty washing, but will not hold my breath, Mr Ahearns Govt has so many skeletons in its own closet it vibrates likea rattle-snake.
After all what did Willie do, copied Mick O`Learys Ryanair model. Only for the staff stopping him it would be a FR twin now. Willie they meant you to fix it, not strip it bare and remove its National Carrier Status. IATA membership gone and One World abadoned!.
The quick turnarounds for a/c ( A la Ryanair ) have led to one thing........Dirty cabins.
P
Perhaps this explains the speedy departure. Obviously the main artery of BA`s pension plan is a better feeding ground for his probiscus. Juicy sucking to be done there. I hope Bertie hangs out the dirty washing, but will not hold my breath, Mr Ahearns Govt has so many skeletons in its own closet it vibrates likea rattle-snake.
After all what did Willie do, copied Mick O`Learys Ryanair model. Only for the staff stopping him it would be a FR twin now. Willie they meant you to fix it, not strip it bare and remove its National Carrier Status. IATA membership gone and One World abadoned!.
The quick turnarounds for a/c ( A la Ryanair ) have led to one thing........Dirty cabins.
P
I seem to remember that before Willie Walsh arrived the airline was flogging off assets (like fine art!) to generate enough cash to stay afloat on a day-by-day basis.
Perhaps Mr Ahern thinks that was a better state for the airline to be in!?
Perhaps Mr Ahern thinks that was a better state for the airline to be in!?
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Sky
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps we should remember the grave difficulties Aer Lingus was faced with post 9/11.
Who was the man that saved them from the Swissair, Sabena...etc fate???
While he may have been looking to benefit somewhat himself from running the company, would you have liked his position post 9/11?? I would'nt imagine it as being too easy a job!
Either way, for whats its worth, i believe that Aer Lingus's very existence today is down to the Trojan work of Willie Walsh and his team!
Who was the man that saved them from the Swissair, Sabena...etc fate???
While he may have been looking to benefit somewhat himself from running the company, would you have liked his position post 9/11?? I would'nt imagine it as being too easy a job!
Either way, for whats its worth, i believe that Aer Lingus's very existence today is down to the Trojan work of Willie Walsh and his team!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cartoon strip
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wonder would the brave Mr.Ahern repeat this allegation outside of the Dáil?
Or is the cloak of parliamentary privilege being abused?
Given the choice of the two men, I know who I would prefer in charge of a business.
Or is the cloak of parliamentary privilege being abused?
Given the choice of the two men, I know who I would prefer in charge of a business.
Join Date: May 2000
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 724
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Is there an election coming up in Ireland?
Could always do a leveraged buyout to private equity...!
I doubt he could get away with it in BA though, its already privatised
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In fairness to WW, while I didn't agree with everything he did, I think he deserves better than a dishonourable attack such as this, made with the cover of Dail privilege. Everyone deserves a reputation and it is profoundly unfair - whatever one thinks of WW - to be attacked in this way.
The reality of the situation - and let's face it, we've seen it in many other areas (the airport terminal, for example), that this govt does not move on aviation issues unless it has a sharpened pitchfork prodded into its posterior. The interest SIMPLY ISN'T THERE. Aer Lingus was back from the dead and the govt was just happy to let it amble/struggle along; it didn't plan for a battle with unions and it didn't want it, so you can understand that Bertie was pretty cheesed off when WW went public with calls for privatisation.
At the time he called for the MBO, WW had probably done as much as he could within the bounds of state ownership; he last throw of the dice, as a means to focus attention on the airline's needs, was a call for an MBO. Perhaps it was politically naive, but I don't believe it was seriously intended; its sole function (which worked) was to focus attention on the airline's future.
Whatever one may think of WW, the reality of this govt's attitude to aviation must be understood and its attitude to being forced to take an interest in the subject seen in that context. Aviation will never achieve its potential as a generator of growth as long as Ahern is Taoiseach.
The reality of the situation - and let's face it, we've seen it in many other areas (the airport terminal, for example), that this govt does not move on aviation issues unless it has a sharpened pitchfork prodded into its posterior. The interest SIMPLY ISN'T THERE. Aer Lingus was back from the dead and the govt was just happy to let it amble/struggle along; it didn't plan for a battle with unions and it didn't want it, so you can understand that Bertie was pretty cheesed off when WW went public with calls for privatisation.
At the time he called for the MBO, WW had probably done as much as he could within the bounds of state ownership; he last throw of the dice, as a means to focus attention on the airline's needs, was a call for an MBO. Perhaps it was politically naive, but I don't believe it was seriously intended; its sole function (which worked) was to focus attention on the airline's future.
Whatever one may think of WW, the reality of this govt's attitude to aviation must be understood and its attitude to being forced to take an interest in the subject seen in that context. Aviation will never achieve its potential as a generator of growth as long as Ahern is Taoiseach.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: the edge of my seat
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Doors to automatic, it was Willie that sold the pics and it was the right thing to do. He also took a lot of tough decisions that others would have shirked from making and it is quite possible that Aer Lingus would not be around if a lot of these things were not done. But it apprears that everything he (by he I include the management team under Willie`s control) touched did not turn to gold! A contract was signed with an outside cleaning company to clean the aircraft in Dublin prior to agreeing this with unions (which is the way things are generally done in this company). It cost a lot of money to get out of this contract (and not a bin emptied by them). He also tried to break a maintenance contract with SR Technics (a deal signed for ten years when Aer Lingus sold their maintenance division) which led to the hiring of contract engineers. SR had an iron-cast deal and those engineers have now been let go. Willie also dropped cargo on short-haul - it is steadily creeping back because it makes money!
I doubt the true version of this story will ever come out!
Akersoid, I think a better way of forcing the Governments slow hand would have been to announce a bold expansion plan as Mannion has done - a plan that needs a lot of capital - thus landing the ball back in Bertie`s court. Willie did not have an expansion plan( that he shared with others), he certainly didn`t leave one behind for Mannion to follow.
Lucifer general alection must be called in the next 12 months.
I doubt the true version of this story will ever come out!
Akersoid, I think a better way of forcing the Governments slow hand would have been to announce a bold expansion plan as Mannion has done - a plan that needs a lot of capital - thus landing the ball back in Bertie`s court. Willie did not have an expansion plan( that he shared with others), he certainly didn`t leave one behind for Mannion to follow.
Lucifer general alection must be called in the next 12 months.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps it was politically naive, but I don't believe it was seriously intended; its sole function (which worked) was to focus attention on the airline's future.
Walsh never did ANYTHING in his business affairs that wasn't coldly calculated to see things come out his way. It didn't matter what it cost - Willy always had to win. If it meant a choice between what was good for Willy and what was good for Aer Lingus...Aer Lingus could go to hell.
In the midst of all the media speculation over his supposed MBO, Walsh never denied it was his intent to actually pursue it until Ahern castigated him in the Dail.
Then suddenly he was falling over himself to quash the rumour.
Clever tactic - a few well placed leaks and then let the media drive the speculation. Run the idea up the flagpole and see who salutes.
Plenty of Irish politicians stood to attention - things looked good for Willy, until Ahern shot him down, and that was the end of his career in Irish aviation!
As to his 'saving the company' Aer Lingus has been through about 4 of these calamities in the last 25 years and has weathered every one. Sure things had to change, but it didn't take a genius to see where the changes had to be. Walsh simply did the obvious. Nothing more, nothing less.
His mistake was he went well beyond what was actually good for the airline in the long run. This error was driven by his greed and personal ambition to own the company. He alienated the staff, the public, and the leader of the government eventually.
He also damaged the companies competitiveness by baulking the much needed expansion in 2002. Now, 4 years on, the whole project is still in turmoil thanks to his mishandling of the recovery.
Incidentally, he has always denigrated the Profession of Piloting in his public comments. He used his insider knowledge of the flight crew function to screw more out of them than any other department in the airline.
Any pilot who believes Walsh was some kind of hero - is either plain stupid, or a traitor to his own profession.
Originally Posted by Idunno
Walsh never did ANYTHING in his business affairs that wasn't coldly calculated to see things come out his way. It didn't matter what it cost - Willy always had to win. If it meant a choice between what was good for Willy and what was good for Aer Lingus...Aer Lingus could go to hell.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you honestly telling me that you believe nobody else in the whole wide world could've managed the recovery at Aer Lingus?
I'm sure you understand how stupid that sounds.
Now, having established that notion as nonsensical lets ask - do you honestly mean to say nobody else in Europe could have managed the recovery?
Or even nobody in Ireland?
Its a patently stupid notion.
We're narrowing things down a lot now - aren't we!
Aside from the fact that there were probably dozens of people in Ireland who could have done it - there were probably more than a handful in Aer Lingus itself who could have.
Always remember, Walsh was a manager in the company for at least the previous ten years, and Chief Operations Officer for at least two years previous.
Therefore, far from being a saviour,
Of course he could manage Aer Lingus out of a quandry...he'd been there and seen it done before!
Its traditionally been Aer Lingus managements area of expertise! Some would say - it's ALL they're good for!
They've NEVER been much more than a bunch of jumped up Civil Servants.
You insult the people who REALLY saved Aer Lingus because you fail to mention them at all - the ones who picked up the pieces when the years of mismanagement by Walsh and his cronies finally came home to roost in spades.
I refer of course to - THE STAFF.
I'm sure you understand how stupid that sounds.
Now, having established that notion as nonsensical lets ask - do you honestly mean to say nobody else in Europe could have managed the recovery?
Or even nobody in Ireland?
Its a patently stupid notion.
We're narrowing things down a lot now - aren't we!
Aside from the fact that there were probably dozens of people in Ireland who could have done it - there were probably more than a handful in Aer Lingus itself who could have.
Always remember, Walsh was a manager in the company for at least the previous ten years, and Chief Operations Officer for at least two years previous.
Therefore, far from being a saviour,
Of course he could manage Aer Lingus out of a quandry...he'd been there and seen it done before!
Its traditionally been Aer Lingus managements area of expertise! Some would say - it's ALL they're good for!
They've NEVER been much more than a bunch of jumped up Civil Servants.
You insult the people who REALLY saved Aer Lingus because you fail to mention them at all - the ones who picked up the pieces when the years of mismanagement by Walsh and his cronies finally came home to roost in spades.
I refer of course to - THE STAFF.
Last edited by Hawk; 18th May 2006 at 23:53. Reason: abusive comments and language
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cartoon strip
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Deary me, BA obviously didn't do there research properly when they appointed their new CEO. They should have asked the staff at Aer Lingus....
Anyway, lots of comments to pick over in this article from the venerable Irish Times:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/fro...AERLINGUS.html
Anyway, lots of comments to pick over in this article from the venerable Irish Times:
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/fro...AERLINGUS.html
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cartoon strip
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeep, absolutely true DTA,
What some people seem to forget is:
The company really was on the brink of extinction that time. Thousands simply had to go or everyone was going to go. End of.
The frequently accessed pot of gold called the Irish Taxpayer had finally dried up, mostly due to the EU.
Bertie Ahern is a north Dublin TD. What percentage of Aer Lingus employees live there? Most of the Dublin based ones.
It's politics. He is a politician. Who is naive when they blindly accept what a politician says 12 months from an election?
What some people seem to forget is:
The company really was on the brink of extinction that time. Thousands simply had to go or everyone was going to go. End of.
The frequently accessed pot of gold called the Irish Taxpayer had finally dried up, mostly due to the EU.
Bertie Ahern is a north Dublin TD. What percentage of Aer Lingus employees live there? Most of the Dublin based ones.
It's politics. He is a politician. Who is naive when they blindly accept what a politician says 12 months from an election?
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Mid Atlantic
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Doors to Automatic
There may well be many people who could have turned Aer Lingus around. Fact is Walsh DID !
Hi RogerIrrelevant - I absolutely agree with you....thousands had to go. And they did. Thus saving the company.
Now I ask you - was that so BRILLIANT? Was that some stroke of GENIUS?
Walsh had been told time and again by ordinary pilots at management seminars that the company was OVER MANNED - yet Walsh's response was ridicule and denial! How do you explain that? The guy was sitting watching the weight pile on, but did nothing about it, and even denied there was a problem.
When the proverbial hit the fan - suddenly he 'realises' the problem and 'rushed' to save the company with a 'stroke of genius' that nobody else could've thought of??
If it wasn't so sick it'd be funny.