It may not have been possible to foresee specificly 9/11, SARS, etc, but in general, these types of things are always happening. The outbreaks of Ebola virus, AIDS, and any number of other diseases have had an impact on travel since forever. Wars are always breaking out somewhere. Airlines in particular have always been subject to terrorist attacks. The economic business cycle has always gone up and down.
To say no one could have predicted specific, detailed events is an utter cop-out. So in that regard, let me help out managers and executives the world over...
Between right now (~summer 2003) and ~summer of 2008, there will be a major world shaking event. This event will have a profound negative impact on businesses in general, and airlines and the travel industry in particular. In the meantime, things will generally improve, with increasing demand for service and products, revenue, profits and disposable incomes. Start preparing for both now.
Between ~summer 2008 and ~summer of 2013, there will be a major world shaking event. This event will have a profound negative impact on businesses in general, and airlines and the travel industry in particular. In the meantime, things will generally improve, with increasing demand for service and products, revenue, profits and disposable incomes. Start preparing for both now.
Between ~summer 2013 and ~summer of 2018, there will be a major world shaking event. This event will have a profound negative impact on businesses in general, and airlines and the travel industry in particular. In the meantime, things will generally improve, with increasing demand for service and products, revenue, profits and disposable incomes. Start preparing for both NOW.
Between ~summer 2018 and ~summer of 2023, there will be a major world shaking event. This event will have a profound negative impact on businesses in general, and airlines and the travel industry in particular. In the meantime, things will generally improve, with increasing demand for service and products, revenue, profits and disposable incomes. Start preparing for both RIGHT NOW!
Not next year. Not next month. Not next week. Not Monday. Not this afternoon. Today. Right now. This very instant. Friday, May 16, 2003, at 8:15am PDT.
In other words, RIGHT F****** NOW!!!!
'Cause in 2023, when some airline executive tells me no one could have predicted the recent problems the airline industry encountered, I'll be bringing up this post and saying, "Wrong, bozo."
[This message has been edited by Ken hAAmer (edited 05-16-2003).]