BA to cut up to 12,000 jobs in "restructuring and redundancy programme"
Apr 28, 20, 1:27 pm
#46
Join Date: Jun 2003
Programs: BA, IHG, 5C
Posts: 4,412
I can’t help but wonder if there’s a political angle to this. How many redundancies will they tell the government can be avoided if other airlines aren’t saved?
Apr 28, 20, 1:29 pm
#47
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: BA Exec Club Gold, *G, EK Skywards Silver
Posts: 860
Copied from the BBC News app:
Balpa's general secretary Brian Strutton said: "This has come as a bolt out of the blue from an airline that said it was wealthy enough to weather the Covid storm and declined any government support.
"Balpa does not accept that a case has been made for these job losses and we will be fighting to save every single one."
This just comes across as bluster.
Balpa's general secretary Brian Strutton said: "This has come as a bolt out of the blue from an airline that said it was wealthy enough to weather the Covid storm and declined any government support.
"Balpa does not accept that a case has been made for these job losses and we will be fighting to save every single one."
This just comes across as bluster.
Apr 28, 20, 1:33 pm
#48
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Bonvoy LTTitanium, BAEC Silver
Posts: 584
That aside, very sad news for all affected.
Apr 28, 20, 1:33 pm
#49
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: ANR, BELGIUM
Programs: DIAMANTAIRE EXTRAORDINAIRE
Posts: 451
Really sad news, best wishes (for the future) to those who might be affected.
hope some solution can we worked out here !!
hope some solution can we worked out here !!
Apr 28, 20, 1:34 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,384
If BA needs Government support they should apply and get it. Wizz Air has and they aren’t exactly the biggest or most important UK airline.
Apr 28, 20, 1:37 pm
#51
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 6,939
Suspect IAG doesn’t have much choice, when entering consultation like this as a UK employer, you have to inform the RPS (govt) and I guess it’s material enough to require a release to the stock market. Don’t have direct knowledge of what IAG is doing in Spain, but wouldn’t be at all surprised if IB/VY were using the force-majeure ERTE scheme under the state of alarm (rough equivalent to the UK job retention scheme, though works differently). Dismissing staff falling under this scheme is legally risky in Spain (though in fairness the law isn't exactly recently tested in this area and IANAL), and in any case the law works differently there. Once the state of alarm finishes, sadly it would not be surprising to hear similar news out of Spain.
Apr 28, 20, 1:38 pm
#52
Join Date: Jun 2018
Programs: BA Gold; Surrey CCC
Posts: 97
I have a little bit of knowledge here as my company is (one of several) working with IAG on some of these plans. While I won’t go into detail and don’t wish to, the plan is very much to try and save as many roles in BA as it possibly can, but given airline sustainability and demand curve modelling, there will need to be a complete reshaping of the business. No choice if there is to be a BA in 3-5 years time. The airline in the short- / medium-term will be a functional one, as opposed to a bells-and-whistles carrier. My own personal opinion is that passenger enhancements and value-add services will be pared back significantly or dispensed with altogether. If it saves 1 job, then that will be fine for many people I’m sure.
I must say, after being quite negative on BA when flying with them, but now actually working alongside them in a crisis, BA have some truly amazing people working for them.
I must say, after being quite negative on BA when flying with them, but now actually working alongside them in a crisis, BA have some truly amazing people working for them.
Apr 28, 20, 1:38 pm
#53
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: UK
Programs: BA Silver, IHG Platinum
Posts: 859
You and I know they won't be able to save every job for a number of different reasons, but throwing the towel in early doors isn't an option.
Apr 28, 20, 1:41 pm
#54
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,548
If BA’s credit rating is sufficient, it could issue commercial paper under the CCFF in the same way as Wizz proposes to, and easyJet has also done.
Apr 28, 20, 1:42 pm
#55
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Vale of Glamorgan
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 2,851
Announcing so many redundancies just two months after distributing Ł600m to shareholders leaves a very bad taste.
I sincerely hope that this is bluster, in an attempt to get government support.
I sincerely hope that this is bluster, in an attempt to get government support.
Apr 28, 20, 1:43 pm
#56
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,309
Terribly sad but not entirely unsurprising news. I think all of us, despite our gripes over catering or outdated seats or BOB etc can empathise with those effected & particularly the amazing front line people we meet every time we fly.
Fingers crossed they all find alternative employment soon
Fingers crossed they all find alternative employment soon
Apr 28, 20, 1:53 pm
#57
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,548
It is unusual, but I would guess driven by legal constraints over timing of such announcements in different jurisdictions. I suppose a political angle to exert some sort of pressure on the UK govt is possible, but IAG has pretty high level govt access in the UK without conducting its business in public. Still we are in a time when nothing is normal...it’s terrible news for the staff, and for the industry.
Apr 28, 20, 1:53 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,384
While I won’t go into detail and don’t wish to, the plan is very much to try and save as many roles in BA as it possibly can, but given airline sustainability and demand curve modelling, there will need to be a complete reshaping of the business. No choice if there is to be a BA in 3-5 years time. The airline in the short- / medium-term will be a functional one, as opposed to a bells-and-whistles carrier. My own personal opinion is that passenger enhancements and value-add services will be pared back significantly or dispensed with altogether. If it saves 1 job, then that will be fine for many people I’m sure.
My only fear is that if they become more functional and no frills, people will just fly other airlines, leading to more bad news...
Apr 28, 20, 1:59 pm
#59
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CMB
Programs: Mucci du Miel d'Or
Posts: 2,343
I think people are reading too much into the absence of any mention of other IAG carriers. Sadly I expect that will come, but possibly caught up in other countries' rules on redundancy/severance notification process, which are typically quite specifically prescribed. Sadly I expect VY would take a hit, given tourism will take a knock.
I mentioned above that hopefully the process is voluntary for as many as possible. I thought that this would be a tall order, but at least for crew, perhaps not as much. We have heard before about a lot of churn on mixed fleet and a steady stream doing the job for 1-2 years before jumping. I also expect the experience of COVID will have prompted some to consider doing something else. Perhaps for many, and ideally all, the offer of severance will be welcome, (ie because they had already decided to move on).
I mentioned above that hopefully the process is voluntary for as many as possible. I thought that this would be a tall order, but at least for crew, perhaps not as much. We have heard before about a lot of churn on mixed fleet and a steady stream doing the job for 1-2 years before jumping. I also expect the experience of COVID will have prompted some to consider doing something else. Perhaps for many, and ideally all, the offer of severance will be welcome, (ie because they had already decided to move on).
Apr 28, 20, 2:00 pm
#60
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 18,673
Horrible news but not unexpected. Feel for everyone that's going to be impacted. Personally if my departments impacted which it more than likely will be im at a time of life and a financial position where I would volunteer to go to save someone who really needs the job being one of the unfortunate ones
