Another QR employee banned from leaving the country

[wapses]

Ian Heywood, something important in sales, joined from BA about a year ago. Decided to leave to follow Peter Spencer to bmi. Has been prevented from leaving the country (even rumours of jail) because he apparently transferred some confidential data from his company computer to his personal email.

Silly boy if true, but another example of the Poison Dwarf flexing his pathetic little muscles. What possible commercial information could QR have that would be useful to bmi?

I am assuming the story is all true. It's been doing the rounds for a few weeks. Anyone know the latest?

[c560xl]

I heard there is a B777 Captain also banned to leave the country.
Is there any truth in this ?
If YES then I don,t think any body from a civilized world would like to join a so called FIVE STAR airline.
Any comments
:eek:

[brassplate]

five star airline, half star treatment of staff.

[belly5]

any update on this? wondering how far the company will actually go, if it turns out to be true?

[Smirnoff N21]

GROUNDS FOR DISMISSAL WITHOUT PAY OR EoSB UNDER
ARTICLE 61, AS PER QATARI LAW

Falsification of identity/nationality or submitting false certificates or
documents.
An act, which leads to gross financial loss to the company.
Violation of health and safety regulations after being advised.
Failure to carry out essential duties after being advised.
Disclosure of company secrets.
Being under the influence of alcohol/drugs during working hours.
Assault on a fellow employee.
Assault on their employer, a manager or a supervisor.
Absent from work for 7 consecutive or 15 individual days per annum
without legitimate reason.
Sentence for a crime involving immorality or dishonesty.

At most, methinks, he'll be dismissed without pay hence it's not classified as crime in the sense of criminal law but probably falls into corporate crime known as white-collar crime, if at all. Dependable on inflicted damage or financial losses incurred and whether public interest is involved or not could be accused for crime. I doubt it however as it'll blow up into political game with embassy getting involved etc. Most probably it's classified as gross misconduct resulting in immediate dismissal without pay.
Don't take it personally take it on the rocks!!!:ok:

[wapses]

Here's some more on the sales guy from various sources.

After his resignation, but before leaving the country he was arrested for taking photographs at the airport and jailed for approximately a week. He appealed to AAB who said he was powerless to intervene as it was a CID matter. I thought AAB intervened in EVERYTHING in Qatar!! What exactly was he photographing that was of so much concern? Were there military aircraft in the background?

While he was in jail his house was searched and he was found to have company information on his home computer. He has been under house arrest since.

Not sure all this is 100% true, but as it is based on information from a number of different individuals I am certain it is fairly accurate.

Enough to sure as hell make anyone toying with the idea of joining QR think long and hard before signing a contract.

Very scary.

[P.Clostermann]

AAB has never intervened whenever the CID or the police was involved.

He simply can not!

3 years ago a dutch captain found himself 1 week locked in jail for offending a traffic cop! He appealed to AAB as well, as he was his sponsor. Well, he received the same answer...NO CAN DO!

these are most probable the limits of his powers!

[vickers vanguard]

what a Fu..g country.....same goes for UAE and the rest of the persian gulf garbage ! what makes me wonder, is that these things have been going-on there for the last 15 or 20 years, and these companies seems to always find a larger supply of IDIOTS joining the zoo.
jailed for taking a picture at a civilian airport ? what a joke ! around here, despite all the mess following sept 11, people were still watching airplanes operating around airports and taking load of pictures.

..................with love..............from Canada !

[FlyingCroc]

And you are right, we are a sad bunch. :yuk:

[vickers vanguard]

I apology for calling everybody an idiot........I'm sure a lot of you had valid reasons to take a job down there..........I did when I spent some years in UAE back in the nineties.

[lowstandard]

Vic Van,
Doha is a joint military/civilian airport and since you are tucked away in your little world, there is some military activity going on here. Not defending the keystone cops but think, then type. Your making canucks look bad.

[belly5]

before another topic goes offside with the question whether people working in the sandpit are lucky or sad loosers............................

taking photographs at the airport as an employee of QR is most likely a very stupid / risky thing to do as proven on numerous occasions before.
However if you are a transit pax , no problem,.... take as many as you want of anything that moves on the airport.:confused:
doesen"t make sense, but matches the logic of the place
:ugh:

[salamalikum2]

Vickers Vanguard..

..Here you can be put in jail if you smoke a cigarette ..in the street.. during Ramadan...!!The rest of the year you can intoxicate people with your cigarette as much as you want in all the NON SMOKING outlet here..nobody care..!:ugh:
Another joke....

[desertopsguy]

You can also be jailed for giving emergency medical assistance at roadside accidents...the 'inshallah' mentality prevails so tourniquets, cpr or anything else you can do to save someone's life is meaningless cos the 'decision' has already been made...any hands on from you and you will be implicated in the event the victim expires...so join the queue, grab your popcorn and watch the poor sucker bleed to death and heave his last breath.

And don't even think about touching an injured woman if you're a bloke!:ugh:

[White Knight]

Well Vickers V, just out of interest which part of the world is Greece in?? You know, the place where a bunch of Brit spotters spent weeks in jail and went through a court case for taking photos at a civilian airport:confused:

Qatar sounds like a real dump:yuk:

[Tintin]

Hey Lowstandard you said :Your making canucks look bad, dont worries there a few Quebecquers in doha who took care of that :O:}

[Geragau]

Please, they like to be called Quebecois!

[PIPE RIDER]

Let's better call them "french wannabes" like ALGs,TUNs,and BEYs:cool:

[Black Stain]

If memory correct the flying dutchman was sprung from jail by the Catamite King himself. The dutchman then became an unfortunate pawn in a silly feud between FLTOPS and 9th Floor. He flew (crew) for months whilst waiting for court.

And what about the CM with 2 cabin crew that were waiting for a taxi outside the Doha Club after a night out. Qatari Police approached and offered them a free ride home: "it's safer than a taxi". The cops took them straight to the lock-up at the station instead. Who knows what the cops had planned, but the CM screamed the place down all night, called the Catamite who had them released instantly.

And what about the drunken pilots who on opening night of Shock and Awe dressed up with plastic helmets and toy guns and went driving around the perimeter of Al Udeid Airforce Base at night taking pictures of the strike packages departing. Arrested and thrown into the Al Wakrah lock-up. Released before dawn by command of the Catamite.

Those rotting in Qatari jails for trivial offenses, probably rot for their sponsor's pleasure.

[40&80]

Pretty much the same things happened in the first Gulf War in Bahrain.
Scratch one very good F/E L1011... for taking pictures from top of the old sim building...an ex RAF chap who thought it was Ok...however it was not and he had to go back to the UK immediately...at least he had no worries about getting a seat to London.

[belly5]

how did it work out? anybody in the know?

[wapses]

I heard that he has now been told that he can apply for an exit permit ... whatever that means.

[Two Dogs....]

Makes you wonder what company info this guy had. That little bald guy with the cold limp hands spent a couple of days in jail himself a few years back for cheating a Saudi investor of millions of dollars. This is a rumor network, I bet the poor prisoner is a disgruntled employee of Dr Evil who had really good dirt in his pocket. Pity....

[Cloth Ears]

Was he 'freed' ?? All seems a bit of a strange situation to me and probably a nightmare for him !! :suspect: :hmm:

[gulf_slf]

British airline boss is locked in solitary for 25 days after arrest for 'spying' in Middle East | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1038893/British-airline-boss-locked-solitary-25-days-arrest-spying-Middle-East.html)

The usual rag comments.......:ugh:

My thoughts go out to Gill, Lottie & Harry at this time ....... fingers crossed that the ordeal wont last for too much longer and that Ian will be home soon .....
Good Luck at BMI Mate ! Will see you in Staines sometime soon:ok:

[A300Man]

This is not good news for QR, having all this dragged through a UK tabloid, and reported meetings with Gordon Brown, etc, etc..........

Methinks the little one needs to receive a SEVERE rap on the knuckles for this one. This is a preposterous outing and one that will only bring harm to QR if Heywood is not released immediately.

[CEO PITA]

Someone told me there was also a QR Capt jailed few years back EU citizen.
Nice airline it is !

[TRC]

As I understand it.....

If you are a non-Qatari national employed in Qatar by a local company (I.E. everyone who actually does any WORK there), the normal routine is to surrender your passport to your employer. I know one person working there who has been allowed to retain it because they need to move around the UAE for business.
I don't know if this rule applies to aircrew - international travel being an obvious part of the job, but....

If the employee wishes to leave the country, either for leave or on termination of their contract, they must obtain official permission from their employer - their sponsor - and/or get their passport back and the official permission to leave the country, otherwise they will be held at immigration (I've seen it happen several times at Doha airport). The sponsor's name is written in the work permit in the passport, so it's no good saying you're a tourist.

I know of two Brit nationals who have 'escaped' from Qatar by doing a runner on a leave 'pass'. I doubt if they're the only ones...

That's how it can be in that country - I was fortunate to work for a UK company and not have to lose my passport so I could leave whenever I liked, but I stuck it because I only needed to be there eight months.

TRC

[Skylion]

An extraodinary situation which risks QR becoming a no-go area for expatriates.

[CEO PITA]

Exit permit is normal procedure in country where human rights are granted . Am sure UK will intreduce it as well and maybe US and Belgium .. ha ha what a good idea !

[wapses]

When the then QR Head of Cargo resigned five or six years ago he was refused an exit permit for a week because Al Baker suspected he was going to join a rival airline.

The guy was only permitted to leave the country after persistent phone calls to Al Baker.

It's outrageous that a company can prevent an employee from leaving the country.

This whole thing should serve as a big warning to anyone thinking of joining QR. Just ask yourself, "Is it worth the risk"?

[TRC]

Exit permit is normal procedure in country where human rights are granted .


Er, can you explain that - and the rest of your post please.

If it was meant as sarcasm or humour, it was lost on me.

TRC

[CEO PITA]

am sure you didnt get me serious !

[TRC]

am sure you didnt get me serious ! Today 12:00



Mate, I KNEW that you weren't serious, I just didn't understand WTF you were talking about.

Here in the UK we don't need Exit visas, we need more bloody ENTRY visas with a stricter control on who gets them.

Are you Qatari, btw? Just wondering - no axe to grind.

TRC

[sayap-patah]

Knowing this, i'm glad just leave the place (DOHA) while i was on leave, since i maintain living with my suitcase only while i'm in Doha. Thank God...:O

[HakunaMatata]

Oh Yea and who was that 40&80. Never heard that one

[wapses]

I recall that in 2001 the General Manager Commercial resigned by email while he was out of the country "on leave", probably so he wouldn't risk getting caught up in something like this.

[Terri Wrist]

Whatever data or photos this guy had must have been very exciting. It isn't the Goat Airways winter menu for sure. Sexual or financial scandal of the highest order I bet. For him to still be in jail must mean he has emailed the stuff to someone outside and hasn't coughed up a name yet. Imagine how funny the photo: a little bald man, with flowing white dress held high, fondling a naked goat..... :ooh:

[belly5]

the runner style resignation is a very popular way to say good bye to the pearl of the gulf.:E and the story is a very good example of how things are done here.
Everything is taking personal by double alpha bravo, except the needs of the employee.
whether I.H. did do a "spy job" :ouch: is a secondary question in the light of the above.
The article should be the compulsory link for everybody asking: How is life at QR?:rolleyes:

[fractional]

In these countries, you have got to be careful in not upsetting a local connected guy.
I've seen cases of having a policeman taking abusive action and arresting or humiliating an expat just because the former was upset with the expat's ramarks on driving (no fingering or any other obscene gesture).
At one time, one customs (x-ray guy) got upset with me because the machine was jamming while while he was distracted with one good looking lady passing by, and threatned me not to speak to "the authority" the way I did. All I did was to say the usual "Excuse me! the machine is jamming".
Here in DXB, this is not so notorious because the expat numbers outnumber 9 to 1 the locals, but then you have a number of other expats doing the same stuff because they just think this is their land.
They treat us like guests. Uhm! I don't treat my guests this way.

[International]

The same thing happened to an Aussie national in Bahrain. He resigned and worked his notice, then the day before he was supposed to fly he was arrested but not charged, detained for 11 months, then released with no indemnity, no pay, no apology.

He was arrested for being close friends with JH who had been at GF and is now at EY. This was supposed to bring some form of pressure on JH, but to what end is not clear.

MK was only released when the Australian Law Society decided to take MK's case pro bono to the international court of human rights...a body that Bahrain has just applied to join as a member! So to avoid that embarrassment, he was finally released after being made to sign a gagging agreement.

[loc22550]

"Travel ban remains on british national"

"A BRITISH NATIONAL ARRESTED LAST MONTH IS STILL IN QATAR AND BANNED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY,AN OFFICIAL SAID"
..."AFTER 25 DAYS IN SOLITARY CONFINEMANT HE WAS GRANTED BAIL BUT BANNED FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY....IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER HEYWOOD WILL BE CHARGED OR WHAT THE CHARGES WILL BE....!"
.."QATAR AIRWAYS AIRWAYS HAS DROPPED CHARGES AGAINST THEIR FORMER EMPLOYEE,NOW IT IS UP TO THE STATE WHETER TO CHARGE HIM OR NOT.."
"HEYWOOD HAS BEEN QUOTED AS SAYING THAT HE IS COMPLETLY INNOCENT AND HIS LOCAL MP IN THE UK HAS ARGUED THAT QATARI AUTHORITIES SHOULD EITHER CHARGE HIM OR LET HIM GO....":hmm:

[Two Dogs....]

These people are just assholes....

[icarus sun]

Actualy they are corrupt misuse of power is corruption. It goes to show that you have to watch out and be careful dealing with Qatar Airways

[Terri Wrist]

Why work for Goat Airways at all if you have a choice?:uhoh:

[wapses]

A comment I've heard a lot around the industry is "do not leave a good job to go work for QR". There are too many risks.

By all means, if you're out of work and an opportunity comes up at the airline, then consider it. After all in that situation you've nothing much to lose ... oh, except of course your freedom based on what has happened to Ian Heywood.

[nigelclass]

Any news if Heywood has been released?

[Two Dogs....]

Maybe we should take him some food? Smuggle in some sly grog and porn too. Anyone know which lock-up the poor guy is in?? :(

[Midland Alpha9]

Heard through a good contact Heywood appeared in court yesterday the case was adjourned until Oct. He has been out on bail since June but still unable to leave the country so he remains a guest of QR.

[OrryFace]

Latest update here:
Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - First Page (http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=238125&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56) :hmm:

[nigelclass]

Anything new about this guy?

[Cam32]

Just keep your head low and the bank balance high. Then you have no problems! :E

[belly5]

Heywood in court next month
Ian Heywood, the UK airline executive held in Qatar since May1, is to appear in court next month, the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said.
A spokesman said it had no details of the charge or charges My Heywood, 47, would face on October 5.
Mr Heywood was working out his notice at Qatar Airways where he was vp global sales and distribution before joining bmi when he was arrested on May 1.
He was released on bial on May 28 but not allowed to leave the Gulf state.
The FCO said it was in regualr consular touch with Mr Haywood and his family.
from BTE Newsletter No 212

[nigelclass]

Any one know what happened on Oct 5 court hearing???

[LA8PV]

Any news about the court hearing on Oct. 5th?

[pedigree]

Here is the latest news. Even if he is found not guilty surely this would still linger on his CV. Could anyone employee him now?

Poor bloke. :uhoh:

Gulf Times ? Qatar?s top-selling English daily newspaper - First Page (http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=246992&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56)

[blueline_climb]

"Persian Gulf garbage"

Class act :D Please continue to grace us with your enlightening posts. You make me proud to look at you as a fellow Canadian. :rolleyes:

[nigelclass]

Anybody hear what happened to Heywood at the continuation of his trial???

[akbaralbaker]

The verdict is out. The court has cleared Heywood of all charges.

Well, that shouldn't go unnoticed in the industry of how the CEO treats his employees.

See article from the TTG below:
- Travel Trade Gazette (http://www.ttglive.com/articledetails?CMPI_SHARED_articleId=1742896)
Heywood verdict announced

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Ian Heywood has been cleared of all charges relating to alleged industrial espionage in Qatar.

The judgement may be subject to appeal by Qatar Airways.

Heywood, 47, was the airline’s vice president of global sales and distribution until April this year.

He was arrested and detained at Doha airport as he attempted to leave the country on May 1.

The former BA boss was returning home to take up the role of commercial director at BMI.

He is believed to have spent 17 days in solitary confinement.

The Qatari carrier accused Heywood of trying to steal data during his notice period.

Qatar Airways is expected to respond to the decision in the next few days.

[arkiegirl]

British Ian Heywood cleared of charges unless QA wants to appeal?

[A330 man]

Maybe that is why QA want all staff to sign a paper of confidentiality, it says no one is allowed to reveal any of the company information that he/she might know while working for QA.

It is 2 pages of lawyer's terminology!

It is amazing how we are working without a copy of our contract, but we HAVE to sign papers of obligations.

[gulf_slf]

My sources tell me that the 'accused' is innocent according to the courts however that the 'legal authorities' have stated that they are not happy with the acquittal and want to detain him in the country for an indefinite period.

Is it not time that the FCO confronted the appropriate persons to establish the 'real' reasons that he is being held after it was found that there was no case to answer?

This is not only a travesty but also an embarrassment to the State of Qatar &, Qatar Airways. It is time that the top politico's stepped in and sorted the matter out.

Let us hope that is sorted in the next 2 weeks however I am not hopeful with the Eid holiday set to begin on Sunday/Monday

[loc22550]

A-330, well no need to be too worried for Q.A..,because as a crew, the only information we might receive from Qatar Airways is through one of those propaganda newspaper we have here in Doha, as we are always the last one to known what's going on here in Q.A.:hmm:

[wapses]

I've met the guy a couple of times. Not a particularly likable character. Tendency towards arrogance. Had his circle of cronies and not particularly interested in giving the time of day to anyone else.

However ... no one deserves to have this happen to them. How AlBaker can stand by and let this guy's life be ruined truly amazes me. I know AAB can be an extremely unpleasant person, but why he has let this drag on so long beggars belief. Ian has surely suffered more than enough whatever he may or may not have done. AAB has the influence to get him released if he so desires.

I imagine this eposide will seriously affect QR's ability to attract expats into management roles. No wonder Peter Foster resigned by email from outside the country in 2001!!

[shneidertrophy]

Could it be a that this whole thing has become a personal struggle between two ego-maniacs?

It certainly has not been a standard trial and we all feel/know more is going on than what is seen at the surface!

One this is sure....this WILL damage QR's reputation in the world of aviation professionals...many will at least think twice before joining the troops at the world's five star airline!

[Skylion]

Ian Heywood finally arrived back in the UK yesterday. He was found "Not guilty" by the Court and the Prosecution confirmed later that they would not be appealing. There had clearly never been a case to answer and he comes away proven to be completely blameless of any wrongdoing. The case was originally,- and surprisingly,- brought by the Public Prosecutor on the basis of allegations made by Qatar Airways who had not taken any action or held any hearing under their own disciplinary code . Presumably there had been no breach of that anyway as there were never any allegations made under it.The Court was faced with delays not of its own making and conducted the proceedings professionally and correctly .The behaviour of QR though in pressing for the prosecution is bizzare

[NoJoke]

Will he be compensated for his troubles? :suspect:

[wapses]

So he's back in the UK at last! How long was that whole episode? Six months? It's a joke, and if AlBaker is not exceedingly embarrassed about the whole business, then he should be.

[KRUGERFLAP]

PAY BACK time is coming ASAP

Corniche Hankie pankie (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/170400.html) times will come to an end soon.

[wapses]

So Mr Krugerflap, what Hanky Panky is going on on the Corniche? And who is involved? Surely not the CEO of the national airline?

[airfly_guy]

not even... you can even say that not even a quarter star treatment is being given...

[cmcpherson]

Ian Heywood was acquitted but faces the same problem I do...I am a Canadian and have been detained 1.5 years and was acquitted. My entire detainment was unlawful and finally thrown out of court by the judge. But it cost me 1.5 years.

The challenge Ian has that I have is to get out of the country. Not only do we need plenty of paperwork but no one knows what they are doing half the time. I have been acquitted now for almost two months and still cannot leave. Inshalla CID and the Ministry might get their act together soon so that people like Ian and I who have been wrongfully detained can have our freedom back.

[A21]

Somebody can confirm is Mr A. Rodriguez is out of Q.A. , a FO of 777 told me , he is not longer on his position. And it is true , who is the new person in charge.... Thanks alot.

[MU2B]

Its true A.R. is out, but I dont know who's in charge

[B787J]

OIC .... Can anybody confirm the reason why ? :cool:

[Wango Z Tango]

The place is a Loose firehose on high... AKA, no one at the helm to steer this goatliner.... but then again i think i'd rather it that way given the options at this point.:}


Hapiness is V2
WzT

[ab330airjockey]

its true ar is out but is sad he is good chap

[ab330airjockey]

does anyone know about the capt who was locked in jail for few days on a false charge by qa but later realised by court on account of no crime case was dismissed by the head of prosecution were is he now ?

[knotaloud]

He was terminated and almost immediately deported is what I was told.

The "Qatar Human Rights" building is quite close to the Markyah pilot's compound should you need it!

[canflystick]

the capt is back in india luckly qr gave him a breathlizer check on his out bound flight and docktered his breathlizer in his inbound flight back to doha qr made a complained to the cops without carry out inhouse inquiry qr way the prosecution found no evidence on qr complain drop the charges in 3 days the capt was terminated was forced to leave in 3 days

[canflystick]

what i know they made him give back lot of money forcefully ,took his licence etc then gave his family an exit visa ,his blood report was 0 for alcahole

[canflystick]

well i dont live there but i was told the king is the chief 330 its is way or the jail .he can put a few bottles down then bull****
i am out of doha on first available opporunity

[canflystick]

to combo how can he be compansated for his loss of reputation

[B787J]

Well the Indian chap was a nice person .... too bad how he was treated . Human Rights r dead in Qatar

[canflystick]

does anyone knows about the first officer who was put behind bars a few days back and on what ground:=

[shneidertrophy]

He has been in jail for several weeks now, awaiting his trial.

He alledgedly raped a 14 year old girl (daughter of a friend and colleague of his) but this has NOT been proven untill today.
Actually, all the preliminary tests show that he is not guilty. They only found a blood stain on her bed sheets.
The girl herself is a bit of a loose canon it seems...

The FO was involved in some nutcase incidents before. He got suspended once for taking a leak in the bible in the LHR hotel!

He is in jail these days where he became known for his fighting techniques...

To be continued...

[luck7711]

Wow, taking a leak in the bible? That should have rang bells about his personality.

[loc22550]

Not only the Bible i think suffered from his "leak" but the entire room in LHR.
Extra charge had to be paid By Q.R for cleaning.:bored:

[misstabula]

i am shocked.i live in kuwait since 2002 and i always tought that kuwait the most difficult place in the Gulf to live in...BUT NOW I AM NOT SURE WHY I TOUGHT THAT.
now i see kuwait in different light.there are no such incidents here.the kuwaitis r hated around the arab world BUT I MUST SAY...THEY R THE BEST.we dont have such ugly stories here.ppl live normal life.foreigners have the same rights as locals except voting.
OMG im so happy i chose Kuwait airways not Qatar or Emirates....
i now fully appreciate Kuwait and i praise His HIghness the Head of State for ruling his country in a civilized and dignified manner.May God Bless Him forever.
love u kuwait.............

[Flygulfair]

misstabula Can i please ask why all your posts are pro kuwait airways? :ugh:

Every airline has there problems and issues, and for you to say kuwait airways treats its cabin crew like royalty would be going over the top, Cabin crew are there to work, the passengers are there to be pampered.

Some airlines go over the top but that just them.

[QTRminator]

Hahahahahahahahahah!!
Misstabula, are you for real?!

[Capt Krunch]

well i'm sure it's safe to say, and most of us would agree, that it's quite obvious that miss-tabula doesn't get out much.
certainly does not seem to be the sharpest tool in the shed.

sorry misstabula but, your doing it to yourself.
A smart man once said " it's better to be thought of as a fool, then open your mouth and prove yourself to be one"

Poisoned by Compromise
Krunch

[Blacksteel7]

misstabula (http://www.pprune.org/members/291978-misstabula)! I was thinking about you. You are crazy. Aren't you?:}

[ODMEA]

I may have my issues with GF now after many yrs of fun flying with them BUT KU??? Not on your life will I ever pay money again to fly that farse of an airline.