BA to cut up to 12,000 jobs in "restructuring and redundancy programme"
Apr 28, 2020 | 1:11 pm
#61
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK. BAEC AAdvantage
Programs: Mucci Des Oeufs Brouilles et des Canards
Posts: 3,760
A friend owns several international businesses, one of which has 4 board meetings a year across the globe, each meeting costs around $100k excluding the salaries of the directors. They’ve held a zoom board meeting during the shutdown and he sees no reason why 3 of the 4 meetings each year cannot be done remotely, they save $300k and staff are not spending two days per meeting travelling.
I think there will be tens of thousands of businesses changing their practises and it will have a massive impact on airlines, airports and business centric hotels around the world going forward.
I think there will be tens of thousands of businesses changing their practises and it will have a massive impact on airlines, airports and business centric hotels around the world going forward.
However I agree to the extent that people that would normally be reluctant to use new technology are having to use it and finding if they put their minds to it, it's not that hard. But there still will be times when face to face meetings are important to build relationships and seal deals. The business cases will need to be justified rather just going on a jolly. It's that market the BA will need to target for the Club business. Alternatively they will need to make a bigger effort on Traveller as you can't Zoom a holiday for 2 weeks in the sun somewhere.
Apr 28, 2020 | 1:18 pm
#62
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: JER
Programs: BA Gold/OWE, several MUCCI, and assorted Pensions!
Posts: 32,488
Alternatively they will need to make a bigger effort on Traveller as you can't Zoom a holiday for 2 weeks in the sun somewhere.
Apr 28, 2020 | 1:29 pm
#63
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: A3*G,BA Silver
Posts: 2,064
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 I think all of us, despite our gripes over catering or outdated seats or BOB etc can empathise with those effected & particularly the amazing front line people we meet every time we fly.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
A few years ago i had a job offer from BA but due to the low salary and living in East London i turned the job offer down. Now i am glad i did but it must be a horrible feeling for people in this situation. Hopefully they will get new jobs soon.
Apr 28, 2020 | 1:32 pm
#64
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,772
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:00 pm
#65
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,246
Call me cynical, but is there additional layers of pessimism going on here to increase the probability of investors being more wary of saving Norwegian and Virgin Atlantic?
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:04 pm
#66
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Sheffield, UK
Programs: Virgin Flying Club
Posts: 94
This is an awful situation but I think BA have been quite transparent and upfront about this. From an employee relations perspective the announcement by Cruz is by the book.
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:23 pm
#67
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle
Programs: BA GGL & LTG, EK Silver, HHonors Lifetime Diamond; Proudly Mucci Free - total nonsense
Posts: 865
I think the highest paid are likely least at risk in BA.
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:26 pm
#68
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Flatland
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold 1MM, BA Gold, UA Peon
Posts: 6,175
IAG's offices are tiny - around 40 people, as I recall, to do all the group functions. Their work is also not, with that few staff, going to be proportional to the volume of business. It will be managing contract tendering, managing the managers in the group constituent companies, counting the beans, screwing up the IT some more [1], etc. - all of which continue to happen whether IAG business grows or shrinks, unless it withers away altogether.
[1] Narrator may be unreliable
[1] Narrator may be unreliable
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:28 pm
#69
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Seattle
Programs: BA GGL & LTG, EK Silver, HHonors Lifetime Diamond; Proudly Mucci Free - total nonsense
Posts: 865
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 wont go into detail and dont 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 Im 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, 2020 | 2:38 pm
#70
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Henley-On-Thames
Programs: BAEC nobody. Starbucks Gold
Posts: 488
Apr 28, 2020 | 2:40 pm
#71
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Henley-On-Thames
Programs: BAEC nobody. Starbucks Gold
Posts: 488
BA may want to bring out this ad from the past or an updated one:
This ad from the past......
However I agree to the extent that people that would normally be reluctant to use new technology are having to use it and finding if they put their minds to it, it's not that hard. But there still will be times when face to face meetings are important to build relationships and seal deals. The business cases will need to be justified rather just going on a jolly. It's that market the BA will need to target for the Club business. Alternatively they will need to make a bigger effort on Traveller as you can't Zoom a holiday for 2 weeks in the sun somewhere.
This ad from the past......
However I agree to the extent that people that would normally be reluctant to use new technology are having to use it and finding if they put their minds to it, it's not that hard. But there still will be times when face to face meetings are important to build relationships and seal deals. The business cases will need to be justified rather just going on a jolly. It's that market the BA will need to target for the Club business. Alternatively they will need to make a bigger effort on Traveller as you can't Zoom a holiday for 2 weeks in the sun somewhere.
ML
Apr 28, 2020 | 3:18 pm
#73
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: former many things
Posts: 6,860
Because it was about discussing a coordinated approach to reopen borders within Schengen which the UK is not part of.
Apr 28, 2020 | 3:35 pm
#74
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Taunton, UK
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Silver
Posts: 1,162
My bank's CEO today made a point that they spent $400 million on travel expenses last year and what remote working has demonstrated is that there's no need to spend nearly that much in future.
So yes, the corporate travel market is going to fundamentally change in the post-Covid world...
So yes, the corporate travel market is going to fundamentally change in the post-Covid world...
A friend owns several international businesses, one of which has 4 board meetings a year across the globe, each meeting costs around $100k excluding the salaries of the directors. Theyve held a zoom board meeting during the shutdown and he sees no reason why 3 of the 4 meetings each year cannot be done remotely, they save $300k and staff are not spending two days per meeting travelling.
I think there will be tens of thousands of businesses changing their practises and it will have a massive impact on airlines, airports and business centric hotels around the world going forward.
I think there will be tens of thousands of businesses changing their practises and it will have a massive impact on airlines, airports and business centric hotels around the world going forward.
Apr 28, 2020 | 3:51 pm
#75
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: GGL
Posts: 500
I wish CIHY et al all the best. As things escalated in late March I decided to sit out the bug in the UK, and the return flight felt so very fin de sicle.
One can question why much of what is unfolding is happening, but not that it is happening. There is a human cost, but for those at the helm the focus is the company, and I'd be slashing hard now.
One can question why much of what is unfolding is happening, but not that it is happening. There is a human cost, but for those at the helm the focus is the company, and I'd be slashing hard now.