Ansett wrote: ↑24 Jun 2019, 21:19
1. With this decision, LH/CS avoid strikes at SN during the summer months, strikes which would have pulled the figures even more into the red.
2. I presume we all agree that this decision makes sense and that CF probably did a good job, but did she really do better than Bernard Gustin and Jan De Raeymaeker who got sacked ?
Duke wrote: ↑24 Jun 2019, 19:27
Jetter wrote: ↑24 Jun 2019, 19:06
Those aren’t available second hand. LH didn’t retract that only profitable airlines receive new equipment. That applies to ‘network airlines’ as well. OS getting second hand airplanes, while LX and LH receive new ones.
Maybe more efficient planes are exactly what SN needs to become a profitable network airline....
Regards,
Duke
Imho, LH/CS still continues to talk nonsense when they say that only profitable arilines receive new equipment. The turn around plan should be about replacing at least 50 % of SN's fleet with brand new aircraft in a first stage.
It would be interesting to know how many savings, how many cost reductions a fleet of very young and factory new aircraft would bring. That's something worth calculating.
Now it is : make a profit with old material which cost more in fuel, maintenance and a number of other costs ! Seems difficult to me given the current wage and working conditions at SN, cutting employees costs (by laying off how many employees ?) will not do the trick. And reducing the wages and increase productibity (= do the same work with less people) will not be accepted. At least, I doubt it.
So, Duke is perfectly right in saying that "more efficient planes are exactly what SN needs to become a profitable network airline".
I partially agree with Boavida when he says "more planes to increase frequencies and destinations". More planes if they are at least very young planes ; increasing frequencies, yes, to business destinations for instance, one example, by adding an evening flight to NYC ; more destinations, yes, basically to Africa, I presume, but what about India in the wake of 9W's demise and perhaps in a not to distant future to Boston).
External factors also have an impact on an airline's profitability. If the oil price goes up, it will be felt more by an airline like SN with planes which burn more fuel than by airlines like LH/LX that have planes that burn a lot less fuel. It is a vicious circle for airlines with a high average fleet age.
In conclusion, LH/CS have come back with one foot on the ground. They will be with both feet on the ground when they no longer say that only profitable airlines will get new aircraft.