British Airways aeroplanes are a frequent sight in the skies around Heathrow. But things have been so difficult for the airline that the future of the company has at times looked very rocky.
Things have not been helped by the situation brewing between the cabin crew and other staff and the people in charge recently. British Airways is trying all it can to make sure that it can get through the recession and it is trying to cut costs wherever it can. But it has now turned its attention to its staff, and that has worried the staff members so much that a meeting was held recently very close by to Heathrow Airport itself.
Apparently British Airways wants to axe some jobs (much like many other companies in the recession) as well as putting a stop on any increases in pay. This would stave off the huge outgoings they have, as well as putting them in a better position for the future. A typical report on the meeting can be found here, on the Guardian website.
It sounds as if the company is in real difficulties – not helped either by the fact that people have been deserting flying in droves since the recession forced them to cut their own outgoings. Lots of people have avoided Heathrow and other airports, instead opting for a holiday in the UK to enjoy.
It makes sense then that BA should look to preserving the company for the long term. Making sacrifices now would be worthwhile if it meant they could survive and thrive again after the recession is over. But does that mean the people who work there should be penalised?
Clearly the workers who met up close to Heathrow Airport don’t think so. The company has hit the headlines recently for asking staff whether they would work for free. Needless to say the unions that support those working for BA and other airlines thought this was atrocious. You can understand that BA are considering desperate measures, but these people have still got bills to pay. Many workers could not manage for even a single month without their current income, so this idea was never going to fly.
It is clear that the meeting near Heathrow wasn’t ever going to agree to the suggestions being made by British Airways. What will be interesting is to see what happens next. While the pilots have agreed to take a cut in their pay, it doesn’t look like any other members of staff are willing to do the same thing.
It would be unthinkable for planes with the BA livery on them never to fly out from Heathrow Airport again. But unless a long term solution is sought and found for the pickle they have found themselves in, that image could become a reality. They are a long way from that yet, but other big name companies have gone under in this recession. Who is to say that British Airways won’t join them?
The narrow profit margins and dearth of customers wanting to fly at the moment have ended up with severe problems for BA.