Sep 29, 2018, 10:12 am
BA to close HKG base [confirmed for Cabin Crew]
Sep 26, 2018, 5:03 am
#62
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, A3 *Gold
Posts: 887
Define decent? I suspect this route does very nicely for BA but for companies like this there will always be a push for improved profitability. Who knows what other profit generating ideas this was seen as a better option than?
Assuming positive intent one would hope BA have done research into their customer base on this route and decided that the Cantonese only speakers who do fly with them rather than Cathay can be looked after by UK based staff with the right mix of language skills. They may be right or may be wrong, only time will tell - however given the significant costs of redundancy for these staff I think we can assume someone has done the research and the maths and decided it is one of the better options they have for increasing margins. That doesn't mean they are doing badly on this route, just that it stands out as an attractive cost saving opportunity, if they wait until a route is doing badly to make these kinds of changes it is probably too late.
(I agree that the letter is overly blunt btw, but the decision itself doesn't seem too outrageous to me)
Assuming positive intent one would hope BA have done research into their customer base on this route and decided that the Cantonese only speakers who do fly with them rather than Cathay can be looked after by UK based staff with the right mix of language skills. They may be right or may be wrong, only time will tell - however given the significant costs of redundancy for these staff I think we can assume someone has done the research and the maths and decided it is one of the better options they have for increasing margins. That doesn't mean they are doing badly on this route, just that it stands out as an attractive cost saving opportunity, if they wait until a route is doing badly to make these kinds of changes it is probably too late.
(I agree that the letter is overly blunt btw, but the decision itself doesn't seem too outrageous to me)
Sep 26, 2018, 5:23 am
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 10,709
Its sad that for an area of the world which is financially growing, and the travel from the area increasing, that BA seem to feel the need to close the base. With a small amount of people affected I fail to see how BA are scrimping in relation to their profits or expected return from that region.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:30 am
#65
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
It really is a shame. But again, not surprising.
BA are opening more routes to the USA all the time, because BA can compete with American carriers.
BA are a decent choice when compared to United/Delta/AA/Norwegian.
Flying east is a different story though. BA do not compare well when compared to many Eastern outfits and I really can't imagine "choosing" BA over Singapore/Emirates/JAL/CK etc etc.
Flying west (which is what I do) BA are a solid option. Flying east? I'm surprised people choose BA in truth. There is nearly always a better option. I don't know how BA will address this moving forward. But maybe they will just concentrate on Domestic / EU and pond hops?
BA are opening more routes to the USA all the time, because BA can compete with American carriers.
BA are a decent choice when compared to United/Delta/AA/Norwegian.
Flying east is a different story though. BA do not compare well when compared to many Eastern outfits and I really can't imagine "choosing" BA over Singapore/Emirates/JAL/CK etc etc.
Flying west (which is what I do) BA are a solid option. Flying east? I'm surprised people choose BA in truth. There is nearly always a better option. I don't know how BA will address this moving forward. But maybe they will just concentrate on Domestic / EU and pond hops?
Sep 26, 2018, 5:33 am
#66
Join Date: May 2016
Location: HK
Programs: IHG Spire Elite Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Aegan Gold, British Airways Bronze
Posts: 182
I really regret having booked my F flight with BA in January. It pains me that I'm supporting a company that would send such a callous letter.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:40 am
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: SE1, London
Posts: 23,434
Shameful letter. Regardless of the meeting that took place you don’t unintentionally write a letter of that nature, knowing full well it will leak. It’s intended as a warning to others...and instead will just erode the culture and behaviours further.
I’ve been involved in similar scale redundancies in countries with both fewer and far more employee protections and there was certainly no need for the letter to be worded that way.
And we as frequent flyers/collectors of miles might well remember that if the airline treats its employees this well, what will they do for us next?
I’ve been involved in similar scale redundancies in countries with both fewer and far more employee protections and there was certainly no need for the letter to be worded that way.
And we as frequent flyers/collectors of miles might well remember that if the airline treats its employees this well, what will they do for us next?
Last edited by Swanhunter; Sep 26, 2018 at 5:52 am
Sep 26, 2018, 5:47 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,257
Uh...you do understand that it’s the locally employed HKG crew base BA are closing, not the actual route??
Sep 26, 2018, 6:04 am
#72
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: GLA
Programs: BAEC: Silver. Nothing else as TopCashBack trumps all hotel programs
Posts: 801
Sep 26, 2018, 6:35 am
#74
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold / Hilton Diamond / IHG Diamond Ambassador / Marriot Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,533
It really is a shame. But again, not surprising.
BA are opening more routes to the USA all the time, because BA can compete with American carriers.
BA are a decent choice when compared to United/Delta/AA/Norwegian.
Flying east is a different story though. BA do not compare well when compared to many Eastern outfits and I really can't imagine "choosing" BA over Singapore/Emirates/JAL/CK etc etc.
Flying west (which is what I do) BA are a solid option. Flying east? I'm surprised people choose BA in truth. There is nearly always a better option. I don't know how BA will address this moving forward. But maybe they will just concentrate on Domestic / EU and pond hops?
BA are opening more routes to the USA all the time, because BA can compete with American carriers.
BA are a decent choice when compared to United/Delta/AA/Norwegian.
Flying east is a different story though. BA do not compare well when compared to many Eastern outfits and I really can't imagine "choosing" BA over Singapore/Emirates/JAL/CK etc etc.
Flying west (which is what I do) BA are a solid option. Flying east? I'm surprised people choose BA in truth. There is nearly always a better option. I don't know how BA will address this moving forward. But maybe they will just concentrate on Domestic / EU and pond hops?
Sep 26, 2018, 6:40 am
#75
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 1,405
Redundancy is a part of working life these days, I suspect not many people would ever consider themselves immune from it, or at least from the possibility.
That letter though makes grim reading, and reeks of a corporate hierarchy totally divorced from its workforce - there are clearly large swathe's of BA's HR and Finance functions that simply have no clue that the cabin and flight crew are the airline.
That letter though makes grim reading, and reeks of a corporate hierarchy totally divorced from its workforce - there are clearly large swathe's of BA's HR and Finance functions that simply have no clue that the cabin and flight crew are the airline.