The Airline Industry's Ups and Downs

With all the stress people already feel during the Christmas Holiday Season let's add some more to the mix. Besides the daily chores of shopping, wrapping, packing, mailing, loading the car and careening down the highway to the airport, now air travelers may be stranded due to a cabin crew strike.

British Airways cabin crews voted to go on strike. Their announced strike will begin on December 22, 2009 and run through January 2, 2010. The vote to strike was 92.5 in favor, which is a rather high percentage. I think they just want some time off and don't care who they inconvenience.

British Airways, like others, is in a financial bind. In their effort to curb costs they already cut 1,700 employees, no raises and some cuts in pay. Union workers have a right to strike - and timing seems to be the crux of this strike. Let's hit them hard - let's leave people stranded over the Christmas Holidays - that will show the public. It would show me that I would never fly that particular airline ever again. With the airlines already in trouble, don't you think they would want to do things to improve their image? Strike if you want to, but do it after the busy travel period. Thank goodness Santa does not have to rely on British Airways!

Boeing will finally, hopefully, test its new 787 after two years

In other airline news, Boeing announced that today, December 15, 2009, the new 787 may make its virginal flight after two years of preparations. In order for the plane to soar there are conditions that must be met first. It seems the determining factor in take-off is Mother Nature. Weather conditions must be perfect, no water on the runway, no wind. Am I wrong, but don't planes normally fly in rain?

The new Boeing 787 is made out of composite materials and will be quiet and produce low emissions. The plane can be ordered in several different configurations and carry up to 300 passengers in comfort.

Boeing is putting a lot of faith, and money, into this new plane. They plan to open a second assembly line in South Carolina. If all goes well the ground breaking for the new plant will be next month. This decision has obviously delighted Governor Mark Sanford. With all the bad press he has been receiving, Sanford probably thinks this will look good on his resume. Yes, Sanford, it's a good thing for South Carolina, but it doesn't make up for what you have already done to do the people of the Palm and Moon State.

Source:

MSN