Cruz speaks: "this is worse than 9/11"
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 888
Cruz speaks: "this is worse than 9/11"
"It is a crisis of global proportions like no other we have known."
"Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company," he added.
Mr Cruz also said jobs would be lost "perhaps for a short period, perhaps longer term" and that the company was in discussions with trade unions.
Aircraft would be grounded in a way that the airline has never had to do before, he went on.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-boss-11957065
"Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company," he added.
Mr Cruz also said jobs would be lost "perhaps for a short period, perhaps longer term" and that the company was in discussions with trade unions.
Aircraft would be grounded in a way that the airline has never had to do before, he went on.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-boss-11957065

#2
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,650
It was only a matter of time. Thoughts go out to the staff affected by this.

#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: BA GGL, GfL, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Lifetime Globalist, AllAccor Diamond, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 888
"Some of us have worked in aviation through the global financial crisis, the Sars outbreak and 9/11. What is happening right now as a result of Covid-19 is more serious than any of these events.”
Mr Cruz said that, while BA was more financially resilient than ever before and had a robust balance sheet, it was “under immense pressure”
Mr Cruz said that, while BA was more financially resilient than ever before and had a robust balance sheet, it was “under immense pressure”

#4
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,495
"It is a crisis of global proportions like no other we have known."
"Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company," he added.
Mr Cruz also said jobs would be lost "perhaps for a short period, perhaps longer term" and that the company was in discussions with trade unions.
Aircraft would be grounded in a way that the airline has never had to do before, he went on.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-boss-11957065
"Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company," he added.
Mr Cruz also said jobs would be lost "perhaps for a short period, perhaps longer term" and that the company was in discussions with trade unions.
Aircraft would be grounded in a way that the airline has never had to do before, he went on.
https://news.sky.com/story/coronavir...-boss-11957065


#5
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,372
Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.comT&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found here.
https://www.ft.com/content/f402d0e0-...d-df28cc3c6a68
As a result, we are suspending routes and will be parking aircraft in a way that we have never had to do before. Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company.
https://www.ft.com/content/f402d0e0-...d-df28cc3c6a68
As a result, we are suspending routes and will be parking aircraft in a way that we have never had to do before. Please do not underestimate the seriousness of this for our company.
This is a worrying time but Im now glad they gave us Recaro seats and BOB, it may just save BA!

#6
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSE
Programs: BA Silver, TK Elite, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, NEXUS/GE
Posts: 465
This is worse for passengers, for sure. At least during 9/11, airlines gave money back to people who couldn't fly.

#7
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 858
Granted it's only a press release, but there is a total lack of empathy in there.

#9
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,041
Who is still flying atm?
Hard to get a feel from flyertalk
Really thoughr we should have had a worldwide shut down a month ago to take stock
Now individual countries are calling the shots
Is there not some commercial sense in downing tools and waiting
Did not Ryanair used to park up loads of planes when commercial demand was down
Hard to get a feel from flyertalk
Really thoughr we should have had a worldwide shut down a month ago to take stock
Now individual countries are calling the shots
Is there not some commercial sense in downing tools and waiting
Did not Ryanair used to park up loads of planes when commercial demand was down

#11
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,383
He's focused on the bottom line and I'm kind of OK with that if he's thinking about his staff rather than his shareholders, however on previous performance its more likely the latter.
Certainly doesn't seem to feel any empathy for PX, I understand the need to protect the business but in the face of what other airlines are doing BA seem to lag behind on the flexibility aspect, doing the bare minimum.
I wonder what damage that will do longer term, if many of BAs frequent flyers believe these type of situations will happen more often not less, and we're offered a status match from those airlines with more flexible policies right now, how many would leave the BA family.
Certainly doesn't seem to feel any empathy for PX, I understand the need to protect the business but in the face of what other airlines are doing BA seem to lag behind on the flexibility aspect, doing the bare minimum.
I wonder what damage that will do longer term, if many of BAs frequent flyers believe these type of situations will happen more often not less, and we're offered a status match from those airlines with more flexible policies right now, how many would leave the BA family.

#12
Join Date: May 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, AF/KL Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 830
This is what I thought too - close everything for a couple weeks / month, everyone stays at home and the Virus blows over. i was at BA when the Financial Crisis struck in 2008 / 2009 and it was not a pretty sight, so I feel sorry for the BA employees (and all the other airlines suffering similar situations) and can only hope this will be a short impact.

#13
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 858
LHR-EDI: roughly 60-70% loading I would say. Heathrow was, however, very quiet during what should have been the morning busy period.
LGW - EDI: pretty much a full flight.
I imagine however that domestic travel is faring a lot better than overseas.

#14
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,383
Who is still flying atm?
Hard to get a feel from flyertalk
Really thoughr we should have had a worldwide shut down a month ago to take stock
Now individual countries are calling the shots
Is there not some commercial sense in downing tools and waiting
Did not Ryanair used to park up loads of planes when commercial demand was down
Hard to get a feel from flyertalk
Really thoughr we should have had a worldwide shut down a month ago to take stock
Now individual countries are calling the shots
Is there not some commercial sense in downing tools and waiting
Did not Ryanair used to park up loads of planes when commercial demand was down
Right now I imagine it's mainly business customer but as this gets to Easter, May or even summer holidays and leisure traffic drops it could get a whole lot worse for BA.

#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,782
Transcript (PDF download):
https://www.headforpoints.com/wp-con...uz-message.jpg
This is being widely circulated on Twitter, for clarity it was not sent personally to me by any employee.
https://www.headforpoints.com/wp-con...uz-message.jpg
This is being widely circulated on Twitter, for clarity it was not sent personally to me by any employee.
