Red Lady Administers Subtle Bashing to Emirates

[watertheflowers]

Hard to miss Virgin's takeover of the 7 Days newspaper today. A witty and persuasive advertising campaign to tempt the travelling public into sampling the Virgin product.

I would put money on most of the Brits in Dubai using Virgin as their airline of choice to travel to the UK. Not that this will affect EK that much as most of EKs traffic transits DXB enroute to Asia and Europe.

EK is now trading as a mass transit system, but still taking some kudos from its once well earned, but now ill deserved reputation as a fine travelling experience.

Virgin and Branson have the knack of making the passengers, and just as importantly, the crew feel as though they are part of a very positive Virgin experience.

This is exactly what EK are losing, apparent in a dearth of meaningful awards in recent years, Africa being the only success story.

Certainly Virgin stumbled a few years ago, leading to some Virgin crew joining Emirates, but without exception they now wish they had stayed with Virgin, who quickly recovered from their fall.

EK would do well to look at the Virgin model of staff management, happy and proud staff equals happy bums on seats.

Other than those with compelling reasons such as avoiding disruption to schooling and family stability, the overwhelming wish at EK is to get out. A significant number are already doing so, most recently the Airbus chief pilot and a senior TRE, both going to Etihad.

If Etihad are smart, in five years from now they will be eating Emirates for breakfast.

[rakedwings]

Hey we were all virgins in our previous life.Now nobody can be proud of that. O.K. , O.K., the ex-virgins I know have never looked back and are happy to be here. Etihad money can probably buy M.Flan. but they need a lot of good luck to have EK for breakfast and digest it too.Etihad threat is as real as yang kok air is to Cathay. Now who really wants to fly in an airline with a name like eaithad.:eek:

[ratpoison]

Well the same could be said for Eeemiraates.

[Des Dimona]

This is only the start of the long slippery ride downhill for Emirates. Instead of letting good people leave, Tim Clark and others should be doing their utmost to retain these staff.

Clark would never get a job where he had to deal effectively with people and treat them with a little respect. If he did (treat people with respect), he might find things running a lot more smoothly than they are(n't) right now at Emirates.

If it's true that the Airbus CP has resigned, irrespective of what you may think of him, it's a loss that will leave many people wondering at the credibility of Emirates senior management - and rightly so.

Rakedwings, don't be so sure - in 10 years time, Etihad may well eat Emirates for breakfast.

[GreenOnGo]

I would love to know the truth of the rumour regarding the Airbus CP at EK. If it is true, that he has resigned, then it would seem to be a bad sign. Given that I have read of all the other pilots (apparently) resigning, if it is reaching to the top, then surely bells must start to ring somewhere in the castle. Let us hope it is not the death knell.:(

[jollyikarus]

My guess is that it is only a matter of time until there will be only one big operator left - either called Etirates or Emihad......
Don't forget, despite from different tribes, the two Archies at the helm of each E are very, very good buddies!

Cheers,

ikarus :-)

[mini cooper]

I'm hoping that as Virgin gives EK a bashing, someone in the higher ether of management may actually finally realise that EK is not as good as it believes it is. We are eons away from where we should be and no amount of stern warning letters from In flight services to the cabin crew will change it one bit. Traditionally whenever Virgin opens a route the airfares fall and the competitors have to try and match Virgin for its flair and service ie Virgin going to Jbg breaking up the SAA / BA franchise.

EK needs to do something major, not a small advertising campaign - something to do with saying how marvellous they are flying so many times to London. You have to produce a quality service, having nice new aircraft is not enough. We've heard it all before, Ek has to improve its service and product = you must have good quality crew to give the service = you have to encourage the best to join = good package.

When will the penny drop - or are they that stupid that they can't see the problems.
PS you need good crews up the front as well so wouldn't it be sensible to give a package that encourages people to join and one that once you're in EK makes you feel that you will never leave!!

:{

[Backwater]

GreenonGo,
CPA resigning is very definitely a GOOD sign and long overdue. Unprecedented erosion of Ts & Cs at EK happened on his watch.

[Cerberus]

You really think Virgin are going to clean up on EK's routes? Branson has been doing his standard 'Blahex' and everyone seems to believe all the passengers will fall at his feet. I'll give him the exosphere but atmosphere?

He is good at PR but as yet he is a small, but not totally insignificant player, in the global market. Sadly for RB though, he is sucking the hind tit behind a number of other more established players, not including just EK. All the blah and PR in the world won't make up for lack of aircraft, lack of crews and an airline targeted in different areas with all of 25 destinations. Will their 6 380s cause a serious dent into EK's market; give me a break. Lets face it most of us thought that Virgin would be one of the first to disappear in the transatlantic battle but he managed to avoid it by selling half the company to SIA.

Watertheflowers:
EK would do well to look at the Virgin model of staff management, happy and proud staff equals happy bums on seats That is not what the staff were saying 2 years ago, that is why they came to EK.

I am sure EK welcome his entry into the market and look forward to thrusting 8 380s a day into his major hubs from 2007 onwards. (Yep, we have ordered more than 6!)

Cerberus

[Marcellus Wallace]

mini cooper said:
EK needs to do something major, not a small advertising campaign - something to do with saying how marvellous they are flying so many times to London. You have to produce a quality service, having nice new aircraft is not enough. We've heard it all before, Ek has to improve its service and product = you must have good quality crew to give the service = you have to encourage the best to join = good package.

I think more than just a good package is needed - an overhaul in attitude and training more likely. Many Asian carriers with much lower packages and inferior equipment do a much better job.

Plus their crew are much more discrete, speak softly and gentler with the galley equipment behind the curtains.

[zklowrider]

It is quite simple really....EK is just a reflection of its parent city, Dubai....a veneer, all nice and glossy, shiney and new on the outside, concealing the rot hidden underneath. :cool:

I am getting to the point where I would rather fly older well maintained machines with a happy crew, than as currently....have any of you recently felt that perhaps some of the "technicians" on ramp don't quite make the grade?:ugh: and some of the cabin crew...:yuk:

It is true, the Airbus man is leaving, as are a whole heap of people one the profit share cheque clears!

Only 1-2 weeks profit share this year lads as the sheik needs a bit more cash to battle Richard Branson!:ok:

The light is getting bigger:) (at the end of the tunnel, that is!)

[puff m'call]

The light at the end of the tunnel is now very bright, there are lots of good jobs out there now with very good t's and c's.

Even if the money works out the same or a bit less which i doubt, most are paying better, i'am still off, enough is enough of this crap day in and day out. It needs a 50% pay increase to bring the money up to even close to what you shoud get working for this cowboy outfit.

Counting the the last few months down and very happy about it.:O

Good luck new joiners, i recon you WILL need it. :hmm:

[harry the cod]

Whaoo.....there........someone say 'cowboy outfit'?

This here be indian territory boy. So saddle up and move out......

[ironbutt57]

Hey harry, you need to drop by the Wrangler in BAH sometime, all the cowboys ARE indians:} :ok: