View Poll Results: Should Alex Cruz (BA's Chief Executive and Chairman) step down or be replaced?
Voters: 936. You may not vote on this poll
Should Alex Cruz step down or be replaced? [FT poll]
May 29, 2017, 12:34 pm
#151
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Just like I wouldn't comment or speculate about Troy's departure, I won't vote here. I have a policy of not having formal opinions on things where I don't know the facts first hand. I don't know what the board make Cruz and Walsh do, and whether or not they are managing the way they would like if they had actual ownership control.
May 29, 2017, 12:35 pm
#152
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Neither was - or rather is - Sir Roderick Eddington AO. Ditto Whitney Straight CBE, DFC, MC, and Barbara Cassani CBE. Of all the lines of argument available on this topic, and given that Alex Cruz can fairly call himself a Londoner, I'm always very much unpersuaded by that one.
May 29, 2017, 12:36 pm
#153
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,774
Market cap ≠ operating profit
May 29, 2017, 12:37 pm
#154
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: London
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BA has a full monopoly at Heathrow and are somewhat competing at other UK airports as a low cost... the planes are almost always full and they are making billions a year in profit.
He will stay and they will continue to cut and profits will increase.
When he does resign is when shareholders should worry, that will be when the profits are dropping.
The days when BA cared about their images, passengers and staff are long gone and won't be coming back with him here or not
He will stay and they will continue to cut and profits will increase.
When he does resign is when shareholders should worry, that will be when the profits are dropping.
The days when BA cared about their images, passengers and staff are long gone and won't be coming back with him here or not
May 29, 2017, 12:41 pm
#155
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
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But I've been around long enough to remember (e.g. and I have a long list!) the opening of T5. That was far, far worse than this, and the brand recovered. In fact T5 is for me a key plank in the brand, but it certainly wasn't so on Day1 or even Day14
May 29, 2017, 12:48 pm
#156
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,774
Put as starkly as that? No. The brand is fortunately far stronger than that. Has it taken a massive hit in the last few days? Certainly so. All the efforts put into the First Wing, career breaks, HBO seating, restored First elements, lounge investments have been submerged by what has happened this weekend.
But I've been around long enough to remember (e.g. and I have a long list!) the opening of T5. That was far, far worse than this, and the brand recovered. In fact T5 is for me a key plank in the brand, but it certainly wasn't so on Day1 or even Day14
But I've been around long enough to remember (e.g. and I have a long list!) the opening of T5. That was far, far worse than this, and the brand recovered. In fact T5 is for me a key plank in the brand, but it certainly wasn't so on Day1 or even Day14
What this weekend has done is fit and reinforce the narrative that both customers and press had already drafted, namely that BA is getting worse.. and worse.
May 29, 2017, 12:54 pm
#157
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: OSL
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May 29, 2017, 12:54 pm
#158
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Put as starkly as that? No. The brand is fortunately far stronger than that. Has it taken a massive hit in the last few days? Certainly so. All the efforts put into the First Wing, career breaks, HBO seating, restored First elements, lounge investments have been submerged by what has happened this weekend.
But I've been around long enough to remember (e.g. and I have a long list!) the opening of T5. That was far, far worse than this, and the brand recovered. In fact T5 is for me a key plank in the brand, but it certainly wasn't so on Day1 or even Day14
But I've been around long enough to remember (e.g. and I have a long list!) the opening of T5. That was far, far worse than this, and the brand recovered. In fact T5 is for me a key plank in the brand, but it certainly wasn't so on Day1 or even Day14
However I personally feel that a fair bit of damage has been done by AC and WW to the Brand. And that they should now go.
My personal opinion.
May 29, 2017, 12:56 pm
#159
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: London
Programs: BA CCR/GGL, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,483
This, unfortunately, I agree with.
Last edited by LondonAndy; May 29, 2017 at 1:10 pm Reason: Can't spell "with"!
May 29, 2017, 12:58 pm
#160
Join Date: May 2014
Location: DMV
Posts: 2,092
Funny story regarding Cruz. I was speaking to a Spanish friend today about the problems at BA, and we discussed airlines in general. I said that I've flown very few LCCs and he said that Ryanair isn't so bad, Easyjet isn't great but at least it's not Vueling (which he considers bottom of the pile). He has a long-haul trip on BA coming up so his heart sank when I told him that the CEO of BA used to be the CEO of Vueling.
May 29, 2017, 1:16 pm
#161
Join Date: Feb 2013
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May 29, 2017, 1:19 pm
#163
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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May 29, 2017, 1:27 pm
#164
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: London
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