It's fairly simple, Willie walsh calls in administrators, the company is run for a few months under administration. During this time all debts are writen off. No more pension fund deficit, no more pension. Fleet size reduced and remaining staff all sorted out with new contracts. Willie and his mates then form a management buyout team. New BA with a fresh start, no pension deficit, no labour problem. Winners, Willie and mates. Loosers, everyone else.

Very probable scenario Ballsout.

One way or another BA needs radical reform of its operating procedures and cost base. WW knows that and knows what he needs to do to achieve it. There is no way he can allow a bunch of dumbheaded cabin crew led by union dinosaurs to stand in the way of progress. If Unite don't see sense in the new talks now taking place then I'm afraid that BA as we knew it is dead.

Many of today's UK newspapers have tables giving comparisons between BA's cabin staff pay and that of many other airlines. BA's appear to be among the highest in Europe. Scarcely a good position in which to try and compete for business.

Possibly as a result of its high costs BA's experience in competing over the last 15 years is dreadful. 15 years ago BA was by far the largest airline in Europe. It second hub was at Gatwick and at Gatwick it had a larger operation than KLM had at Schipol. It was Rod Eddington who decided that the company had to consolidate at Heathrow. So most of the long haul has gone at Gatwick. The franchised operations at LGW have been cut by at least a third. Provincial operations have been eliminated at MAN and BHX by giving them to Flybe.

It has been more than a decade of seemingly endless decline. BA now seems to have the worst financial position of any European major airline.

In the same newspapers BASSA ( the branch of Unite representing BA cabin crew) there are reports of a BASSA memo accusing BA management of trying to turn the airline into another Ryanair. It asserts that BA management are trying to turn thre company into a poor shadow of waht it is at best. What a joke. It would do BASSA well to read up about Ryanair. They could start by reading the RYR thread on this site.

Unlike BA RYR is profitable. BA is declining in size, RYR is expanding rapidly. RYR carries more than twice as many pax as BA per year. The gap is growing rapidly. BA is trying to get rid of staff. RYR is employing new people every day.

BA will almost certainly have to cutback further. That will be certain if the strike goes ahead.

Come on BASSA. protecting your bloated priveleged terms and conditions is killing the golden goose. RYR is offering jobs, BA isn't.

BA strike has been called off!

This should be the good news BA have been waiting for!

Interesting to see that the UKs 'supreme' court, could find time instantly, to hear BAs case for halting a strike... :hmm:

BA? Just another airline. Nothing special - is there? OK, I will give you the fact that every year, they threaten to do something drastic, only to back down at the last minute. THEN, when they get the bit between their teeth and go for it big time, the CC union balls it up... :ok: What a bunch of :mad:

Cant wait to see Mr Woodley explain this one away on the news, and then announce the 'next' strike. (Thats if the CC dont call in sick)

Posted by MUFC fan
Yes, my experience also.... but times change.

Prior to retirement a few years ago, I held a BA Gold card for 16 consecutive years and a silver for many years before that. During that time I never had anything other than a good flying experience with BA. The Cabin Crew were always friendly, efficient and professional, and I had total confidence in the Flight Deck Crew and Aircraft Maintenance. Having also flown long haul with BCal, Pan Am, KLM, SQ, Qantas, Virgin and Cathay Pacific, I always described BA long haul as 'As good as any but better than most'.

About 21 months ago I was asked for advice on long haul travel firstly by my daughter who was about to book flights to Hong Kong in January this year, then my next door neighbour who was about to book flights to Vancouver also in January this year.

Without hesitation I strongly recommended BA from MAN via LHR although cheaper alternatives were available. WHAT AN EMBARRASSING MISTAKE.

My daughters view of BA was that the shuttle was fine but as for long haul, the food was awful, the service was generally poor and she described the attitude of the Cabin Crew on the return flight as 'anything seemed too much trouble for them'. She was very disappointed with BA.

My next door neighbour was not at all impressed with the Cabin Crew on both flights describing them as very stand-offish and seemed to go totally AWOL on the return flight. His previous visit to Canada was with Zoom who he rated much better for comfort and service. He said he would not consider BA for any future long haul flights.

Although I was initially shocked and somewhat embarrassed by their comments, it would appear from postings on certain threads that these are not isolated incidents when travelling economy with BA these days.

I can only very sadly conclude that there has been a marked decline in the standard of service since I travelled regularly with them. I just cannot comprehend any reason why the apparently highest paid Cabin Crew in the UK should not provide the best possible standard of service and I'm afraid what little sympathy I had for their fight to retain their current Terms and Conditions evaporated with the timing and length of the proposed industrial action.

From comments on the Cabin Crew Forum there is obviously quite a number of BA CC who take great pride in their job and obviously perform their duties with enthusiasm. Unfortunately there seems to be what I hope is a minority who perhaps are not really suited for that position.
Before anyone makes the point about Cabin Crew being there first and foremost for safety reasons, that is taken for granted.

I feel sure that all Cabin Crew at BA will experience some bitterness and resentment from passengers in the coming months.

Unfortunately i can echo the above sentiments about BA cabin crew, on a flight from Venice to Gatwick, not even a full aircraft, the crew were chatting to each other as they threw out the meals " i just cant wait to get off this awfull flight".
Right infront of all the pax!!
General concensus from those i talk to are there are much better products out there!

Same with VS crew, 11 hr flight, inc 3 hrs rest couple of meal and drink services and they feel like they have been worked to the bone!! with only 3 days off down route before a similar return!

UK scedule crews seem to put a lot less effort in than those form other countries, have flown Malyysian and Olympic recently and they both have far superior products to BA and VS.

Brits (not all) want money for doing nothing and it shows!!

To be pedantic, the High Court is technically not our "supreme court". The Supreme Court is the final appeal court and hears cases on appeal from the Court of Appeal which, in turn, hears cases on appeal from The High Court.

The High Court heard the case on the injunction at short notice just as it did the case on the injunction against the changes to crewing levels.

The courts have the capacity to deal with cases like this at very short notice. The most common examples being individuals/corporates seeking an injunction against a publisher/broadcaster against running a particular story.

There is a marked decline in every service or tell me different?

Do BA still schedule it as a 2 day trip LHR-LCA? Charter crews do it there and back in the day. Talk about money down the drain.

Serenity

love to know who you work for, it must be the most perfect company in the world.

BBC News Article - Salary Costs
 

Interesting article on BBC1 news over the weekend regarding salary costs at BA. Basic point was that average cc salaries at BA are significantly higher than those at Virgin. Basis of assessment was average basic salary + average benefits. Worked out as (£16k + £8k = approx.) £24k at Virgin and (£24k + £9k = approx.) £34k at BA. Further interesting point was that the comparison included all cc at Virgin, but senior cc at BA were excluded. In other words, the disparity would have been great had senior BA cc been included.

I'm perfectly aware that this was only a snap-shot and who verified the figures used!? On the surface it would suggest that Virgin cc should be striking. Then again, it's BA management that are responsible for arriving at the wage bill they're complaining about.

Still, interesting article!

British Airways And The A380
 

This has probably been discussed a lot before but now that it is 2010 it might be interesting to look at any progress with British Airways and how they will operate their A380s.

I have a few questions that maybe can be answered:

- Will the aircraft be deferred due to BA's financial difficulties or could they be brought forward as a result of other airlines pushing theirs back?

- How will the aircraft be configured? Any news on a new economy and first class product to debut on the WhaleJet?

- What routes will they be operated on?

- Any idea on registrations and if a new livery/corporate identity could be revealed with the arrival of the A380?

BA changed their livery in 1984, 1997 and then again in about 1999 (?) although the latter change was only the tails due to public opposition to the concept. So 2012 could be the time for a new identity although the new one is pretty timeless imho.

Looking forward to hearing your responses!

380
 

The A380's have already been deferred. 1st ones were due in 2012, now 2013. The later ones have been put back further, spreading out the introduction of the firm orders.

The configuration and routes have not been announced. There isn't much point - a lot can happen between 2010 and 2013. Also no point in tipping of the competition.

CB

New livery? Hopefully retro- a blue/white colour scheme with blue fin and a giant gold 'speedbird' on the tail. Not a flag carrier anymore, so ditch the flag and all the garish red. Large BOAC painted on the fuselage (nothing to do with the fake who inhabits these pages who never worked for BOAC BTW)

Really surprised if a rebranding happens in the next few years, can't imagine the cost.

Did BA serve Santo Domingo?
 

I don't think so, but BA Line Maint had a large operation there a few years ago doing line maintenance for UK and European charter operaters. Not sure why it started, perhaps there was a BA (Caledonian) charter operation there for a while.

Centrefix25

Rebranding will occur, it may be a year or two from now. It will happen, make no mistake.

If the Cabin Crew take industrial action, it will accelerate the process.

The explanation give in the BA shareholders November newsletter is that it's all about ground facilities...not for aircraft but for travellers. BA withdrew because the DR was a low-cost destination for tourists. They have restarted to flights to PC because of the number of more upmarket hotels that have opened, presumably catering for the sort of passenger that would be prepared to pay business leisure fares on BA services. It's interesting to note that the BA language has shifted from business travellers to include premium leisure travellers.