BA delays at LHR - Computer issue
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 164
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From: UK
Unfortunately it is still too easy to make a business case for it - using a template provided by a large outsourcing consultancy or the contractor themselves - and those at the top always vote for the cheap magic solution
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 229
Likes: 2
From: New York
Rush to judge
Folks; I get the desire to point the finger offshore; but has any actual eveidence for this as the root cause been presented?
This appears to be a local data center outage and is most likely the result of poorly documented design or (sadly) simple user error at its heart. You can't power a D.C. from the subcontinent.
This appears to be a local data center outage and is most likely the result of poorly documented design or (sadly) simple user error at its heart. You can't power a D.C. from the subcontinent.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 2
From: London
It's not just BA - this weeks Economist points out 9 major airline IT failures in the last 2 years (BA 4!), Expressjet, United, Delta, Southwest & American)
It's systemic - in 2015 (the last year figures are available) airlines only spent 2.7% of revenues on IT - this is half the norm across all industries
You get what you pay for.......................
It's systemic - in 2015 (the last year figures are available) airlines only spent 2.7% of revenues on IT - this is half the norm across all industries
You get what you pay for.......................
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 276
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From: Lon UK
The bean counters in those airlines will have been counting the cost of the system failures and hopefully sharpening their pencils over the allocation of operating funds.
With regards to passenger orientation and reduced cabin services, Delta recently started re-introducing meals on certain sectors.
With regards to passenger orientation and reduced cabin services, Delta recently started re-introducing meals on certain sectors.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 2
From: United States
I very much doubt the uk government has any appetite for saving BA .
In any event it will not be necessary, much as it pains me to say so ,BA is still one of the best known global brands with an almost unrivalled network.
As I work for a competitor I sort of wish them down but realistically the routes, slots and brand are so valuable that I can't ever see that happenning.
There is nothing wrong with BA that can't be fixed but they do need to look very hard at some of their practices .
E.g. I do enjoy listening to BA crews bleat about how they are "pilots for BA " in the business lounges of 5 star city centre hotels around Europe but is this really cost effective/sustainable ?
In any event it will not be necessary, much as it pains me to say so ,BA is still one of the best known global brands with an almost unrivalled network.
As I work for a competitor I sort of wish them down but realistically the routes, slots and brand are so valuable that I can't ever see that happenning.
There is nothing wrong with BA that can't be fixed but they do need to look very hard at some of their practices .
E.g. I do enjoy listening to BA crews bleat about how they are "pilots for BA " in the business lounges of 5 star city centre hotels around Europe but is this really cost effective/sustainable ?
PPRuNe Person
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,273
Likes: 13
From: see roster
I do enjoy listening to BA crews bleat about how they are "pilots for BA " in the business lounges of 5 star city centre hotels around Europe but is this really cost effective/sustainable ?
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,350
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From: Florida and wherever my laptop is
I presume you mean the Spanish government? After all BA is just a subsidiary of a Spanish company now and is even run by a Spaniard. This is the reason that there is only interest in money that can be milked from BA and not in 'the brand'.
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 284
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From: Stockport
After all BA is just a subsidiary of a Spanish company now
There would be some tax advantages, particularly to small shareholders, if IAG became a British company.
Post-Brexit would there be any problems about a foreign-owned company holding a British AOC?
Is there any effective mechanism through which such issues could be raised with IAG top management?
Joined: Aug 2001
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 1,829
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From: se england
Just to add the point that Spain pretty much owns UKs aviation industry as both BA (technically) and LHR are both Spanish owned. In fact only EasyJet and Manchester airport are British owner among the main elements of UK aviation as to add to the above Ryanair and LGW are both non UK owned .
Compare that with France or Germany where it would be unthinkable and indeed where the legacy state carriers own substantial foreign airlines. Or in Donald World where ownership of an airline or airport by a foreign entity is probably illegal.
Compare that with France or Germany where it would be unthinkable and indeed where the legacy state carriers own substantial foreign airlines. Or in Donald World where ownership of an airline or airport by a foreign entity is probably illegal.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 96
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From: Kingston, Surrey, UK
Nobody thought RR Aero would go bust in 1971, but it did. You need to plan for these things, independent pension funds 100% funded being one item. If BA was to fold after Brexit, it would be more complex as its an EU operating/holding company, I question if the UK government could step in, assuming it wanted to do that.
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,395
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From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
The recent IT meltdown isn't the only issue ba faces. It is rapidly becoming known as an airline which offers LoCo standards but charges premium prices.
All down to Walsh and Cruz and their obsession with profit against quality.
Passenger comment on airline websites show that the glory days of BOAC / BEA have now atrophied to such an extent that the airline's survival cannot be assured.
"We (once) took care of you...."
All down to Walsh and Cruz and their obsession with profit against quality.
Passenger comment on airline websites show that the glory days of BOAC / BEA have now atrophied to such an extent that the airline's survival cannot be assured.
"We (once) took care of you...."
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Devon
"British Airways is expected to be stripped of its coveted four-star quality rating after being accused of providing a worse service than Aeroflot.
In a new humiliation, the boss of research firm Skytrax said Britain’s flagship carrier now compares unfavourably with the state-backed Russian airline, once known for having an appalling safety record, inedible food and rude staff.
Skytrax said it is likely to cut BA’s rating to three stars out of five, bringing it in line with budget airline Ryanair, Uzbekistan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Myanmar Airways."
In a new humiliation, the boss of research firm Skytrax said Britain’s flagship carrier now compares unfavourably with the state-backed Russian airline, once known for having an appalling safety record, inedible food and rude staff.
Skytrax said it is likely to cut BA’s rating to three stars out of five, bringing it in line with budget airline Ryanair, Uzbekistan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, and Myanmar Airways."
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 2
From: London
IAG is not "Spanish Controled" - it is incorporated in Spain (for tax reasons I beleive) and quoted on the London & Madrid Stock Exchanges
The issued share capital is 2,132,988,743 shares
Name of significant Shareholders
%
Qatar Airways (Q.C.S.C.) - 20.010 -
Capital Research and Management Company* 10.013
Europacific Growth Fund* 5.261
Deutsche Bank AG 2.494
Black Rock Inc 0.439
Landsdowne Partners International Limited 4.222
Invesco 2.007
Lansdowne Developed Markets 3.60
Disclosures based on issued share capital at the time of notification.
The issued share capital is 2,132,988,743 shares
Name of significant Shareholders
%
Qatar Airways (Q.C.S.C.) - 20.010 -
Capital Research and Management Company* 10.013
Europacific Growth Fund* 5.261
Deutsche Bank AG 2.494
Black Rock Inc 0.439
Landsdowne Partners International Limited 4.222
Invesco 2.007
Lansdowne Developed Markets 3.60
Disclosures based on issued share capital at the time of notification.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 379
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From: London
There is a strong Spanish influence in IAG. Not only is it Spanish-registered and listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange, the chairman (Antonio Vazquez Romero) is a Spaniard. Reporting to Romero is Willie Walsh, chief executive, half of whose 14 direct reports are Spaniards, namely:
- Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO BA
- Luis Gallego Martin, CEO Iberia
- Jose Antonio Barrionuevo Urgel, CFO Iberia
- Javier Sanchez-Prieto, CEO Vueling
- Jorge Saco Inglesias, CFO Vueling
- Enrique Dupuy de Lome, Chief Financial Officer
- Ignacio de Torres Zabala, Director of Global Services
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 230
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From: Girona
News flash: Spanish company is full of .... Spaniards
There is a strong Spanish influence in IAG. Not only is it Spanish-registered and listed on the Madrid Stock Exchange, the chairman (Antonio Vazquez Romero) is a Spaniard. Reporting to Romero is Willie Walsh, chief executive, half of whose 14 direct reports are Spaniards, namely:
- Alex Cruz, Chairman and CEO BA
- Luis Gallego Martin, CEO Iberia
- Jose Antonio Barrionuevo Urgel, CFO Iberia
- Javier Sanchez-Prieto, CEO Vueling
- Jorge Saco Inglesias, CFO Vueling
- Enrique Dupuy de Lome, Chief Financial Officer
- Ignacio de Torres Zabala, Director of Global Services
¿ How could a company such as IAG not have a substantial Spanish input ?
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: London
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 379
Likes: 0
From: London
The Chairman and CEO BA, the CFO and the Director of Global Services are all managing mainly British assets and British people, and do not have to be Spanish. But I believe that the politics of the company requires an equal number of Brits and Spanish reporting to Willie Walsh, even if it meant appointing the chief executive of unimpressive Vueling to be the CEO of BA.