British Airways
Join Date: May 2011
Location: IOM
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cruz: "We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too. There is no government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely... We will see some airlines go out of business."
Stab at the competition there. But I can't help but think that the Gov might prefer to give them cash to keep these people employed.
Stab at the competition there. But I can't help but think that the Gov might prefer to give them cash to keep these people employed.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Not so many places currently
Age: 59
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Espada III
I have been stuck in Israel for a few weeks caring for a family member and now need to return to the UK. I am aware of others who have been here for sound reasons but now need to return as well. There were no obvious options to do that until there was news that BA were starting daily flights to TLV from 1 May. In truth they have been flying daily anyway but presumably without passengers as the flights appear on FR24 but not on any website offering tickets.
But rumours abound that these flights will not happen and we will remain stuck here for some time. Does anyone have any information about these flights and if they will actually take off?
But rumours abound that these flights will not happen and we will remain stuck here for some time. Does anyone have any information about these flights and if they will actually take off?
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: North West UK
Posts: 536
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No idea, but I managed to fly to Stansted yesterday on an Israir flight which was collecting Israelis to repatriate them. All cabin crew wearing full hazmat suits and masks. No more than 80 passengers with the first five rows and last four blocked off. I had a row to myself. No health checks carried out but we were required to wear masks the whole flight.
I have never seen airports so quiet. Tel Aviv was eerily empty, with two out of 80+ check in desks open. Four flights out yesterday. Arrival at Stansted was similar. Apparently only three flights yesterday. From walking into the terminal from the plane to walking out, including passport and collecting luggage was well under five minutes.
I have never seen airports so quiet. Tel Aviv was eerily empty, with two out of 80+ check in desks open. Four flights out yesterday. Arrival at Stansted was similar. Apparently only three flights yesterday. From walking into the terminal from the plane to walking out, including passport and collecting luggage was well under five minutes.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NW England
Posts: 148
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thoughts are with all the staff here.
I still think if this crisis carries on for many more months, BA will have no choice but to approach the government for support. Their earlier statement about not needing help could end up being a rod made for their backs.
Originally Posted by JSCL
Cruz: "We must overcome this crisis ourselves, too. There is no government bailout standing by for BA and we cannot expect the taxpayer to offset salaries indefinitely... We will see some airlines go out of business."
Stab at the competition there. But I can't help but think that the Gov might prefer to give them cash to keep these people employed.
Stab at the competition there. But I can't help but think that the Gov might prefer to give them cash to keep these people employed.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With most airlines requiring government assistance by the end of this crisis, perhaps nationalising the lot and having one large state airline might be the cheapest way out of the crisis for the industry, with the least pain for employees.
Many European countries already have one airline that is overarching dominant in their market place (Germany and France to name two). The UK is somewhat different, with the London market being quite different to that in the rest of the nation at present. To do as I have proposed would essentially take the industry back to the 1960s, but may not be too far fetched a solution if things get really bad.
Many European countries already have one airline that is overarching dominant in their market place (Germany and France to name two). The UK is somewhat different, with the London market being quite different to that in the rest of the nation at present. To do as I have proposed would essentially take the industry back to the 1960s, but may not be too far fetched a solution if things get really bad.
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Newcastle
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I cannot say I am surprised with Cruz’ comments. He has had a cut throat attitude throughout his time at IAG and is part of the reason they brought him in from Vueling.
i don’t think you can blame him for this one though, taking everything at face value with the current situation, as it does seem quite a logical decision (as terrible as the loss of circa 12,000 jobs are) with BA the majority loss maker within the group and a reduce in air travel. However, I cannot say I am surprised at this. BA continue to constantly get negative press and they have had numerous issues, especially with crew strikes, and another one of their major issues is the product itself. When AC came and decided to have a major overhaul of the product this hasn’t succeeded IMO. It did bring the prices down versus what they were but a lot of the general public still see and hope that they’re purchasing a premium product when buying a ticket with BA and this isn’t the case IMO. Travelling domestic or SH is no different to EZY and their CW product still isn’t as good as some of their competitors for LH.
This post isn’t a one intended to agree that BA’s actions are justified because I do wholeheartedly believe, despite the current awful pandemic we’re going through, that the majority of these job losses could and would be avoided if AC had not ruined a very good airline.
i also think his statement is terribly worded - having a dig at the competition whilst also saying that they cannot rely on furlough forever. The latter to me, having being employed by BA for a number of years in the past, screams and insinuates to me that the majority of these job losses were already on the radar pre-pandemic and I’d be very surprised if there are current BA employees on this board that do not agree with this.
i don’t think you can blame him for this one though, taking everything at face value with the current situation, as it does seem quite a logical decision (as terrible as the loss of circa 12,000 jobs are) with BA the majority loss maker within the group and a reduce in air travel. However, I cannot say I am surprised at this. BA continue to constantly get negative press and they have had numerous issues, especially with crew strikes, and another one of their major issues is the product itself. When AC came and decided to have a major overhaul of the product this hasn’t succeeded IMO. It did bring the prices down versus what they were but a lot of the general public still see and hope that they’re purchasing a premium product when buying a ticket with BA and this isn’t the case IMO. Travelling domestic or SH is no different to EZY and their CW product still isn’t as good as some of their competitors for LH.
This post isn’t a one intended to agree that BA’s actions are justified because I do wholeheartedly believe, despite the current awful pandemic we’re going through, that the majority of these job losses could and would be avoided if AC had not ruined a very good airline.
i also think his statement is terribly worded - having a dig at the competition whilst also saying that they cannot rely on furlough forever. The latter to me, having being employed by BA for a number of years in the past, screams and insinuates to me that the majority of these job losses were already on the radar pre-pandemic and I’d be very surprised if there are current BA employees on this board that do not agree with this.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Under the flight path
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by ATNotts
With most airlines requiring government assistance by the end of this crisis, perhaps nationalising the lot and having one large state airline might be the cheapest way out of the crisis for the industry, with the least pain for employees.
Many European countries already have one airline that is overarching dominant in their market place (Germany and France to name two). The UK is somewhat different, with the London market being quite different to that in the rest of the nation at present. To do as I have proposed would essentially take the industry back to the 1960s, but may not be too far fetched a solution if things get really bad.
Many European countries already have one airline that is overarching dominant in their market place (Germany and France to name two). The UK is somewhat different, with the London market being quite different to that in the rest of the nation at present. To do as I have proposed would essentially take the industry back to the 1960s, but may not be too far fetched a solution if things get really bad.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: jersey
Age: 73
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by LGS6753
Surely you don't want to go back to a situation where politicians run airlines, bad decisions proliferate, innovation stops, fares rise and inefficiencies abound. Because that's what nationalisation means in practice.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by LGS6753
Surely you don't want to go back to a situation where politicians run airlines, bad decisions proliferate, innovation stops, fares rise and inefficiencies abound. Because that's what nationalisation means in practice.
I very much doubt the industry would go this way, for political and ideological reasons, but from an economic point of view it may be the best course of action, depending upon just how bad things get, and they have already got bad, for the employees of not just BA but many others, including SAS and Lufthansa.
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: London
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So it looks like the plan is to merge all 3 fleets to create a single fleet at LHR.
Not too sure this will go down well with Euro/Worldwide fleet and their notorious union. Mixed fleet I’m sure are happy to just go along with it, like they’ve got a choice in the matter anyway. I wouldn’t expect this to work very well onboard, each fleet having its own kind of service.
Not too sure this will go down well with Euro/Worldwide fleet and their notorious union. Mixed fleet I’m sure are happy to just go along with it, like they’ve got a choice in the matter anyway. I wouldn’t expect this to work very well onboard, each fleet having its own kind of service.
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: London
Posts: 196
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A merger of the fleets was always going to happen at some point. Though, many who have done long-haul in the past and transferred to Eurofleet for a better work/life balance will not relish doing long-haul again.
One really big sticking point is the number of SCCMs on board and what happens to the Purser/CSD roles.
One really big sticking point is the number of SCCMs on board and what happens to the Purser/CSD roles.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: U.K
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by RJ100
That is what BA are planning for the ground staff at LGW, but not LHR
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: In the sky
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by Nostoodian
What's going to happen to London City?
CityFlyer is already a lean operation and was arguably under crewed for the pre-COVID19 timetable so it will be interesting to see how things adapt.
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London Whipsnade Wildlife Park
Posts: 4,967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
