Eloise Horsfield
A TRADE union has accused British Airways of committing ‘a brutal attack’ on Spain, after airline Iberia announced plans to slash 4,500 jobs.
The parent company of Iberia and British Airways, the International Airlines Group (IAG) took the decision to lay off a quarter of its staff after revealing the Spanish carrier is losing €1.7 million a day.
It is one of the biggest staff cuts in Spain’s history.
Other measures being taken include reducing network capacity by 15% to focus on the most profitable routes and cutting 25 aircraft from its 156-strong fleet.
It is hoped the plan will help reduce Iberia’s cash loses by mid-2013, and raise profits by at least €600m.
As a businessman, I’d “guess” that more efficient Spanish operating procedures and better financial management would have avoided this burden on Iberia. Didn’t Iberia management REALIZE this would happen when taken over by British Air – excuse the misnomer, “BA”
When the Iberia loses are shown, I wonder how many Million Euros will be paid to Iberia Execs as “Bonuses” ??
Spanish companies and workers had nothing to say when Spanish business’s were allowed to takeover UK companies on the cheap via a back door subsidy which is illegal under European Union laws. Guess it’s one law for the Spanish, French and Germans and another for the British and Europeans wonder why a lot of British voters want out of the EU.
Lets get things straight here. Most of the looses Iberia withhold is due to the bad practice done by its pilot. In the last 2 years Iberia suffered countless Pilot strikes almost on monthly basis.
Some of this pilots make somethig like 2 transatlantic flights a month and making 18.000€ of a monthly wage. With a pathetic recruitment scheme, where only if you have very highly connected you could get a job.
Iberia s situation is 100% pilots fault, not BA.
What this article doestn mention is that the main shareholders of IAG are spanish companies such as Bankia or El corte ingles, which are the first interested in getting profits.
I am a young spanish pilot, I know what I am talking about. Start recruiting young willing to work pilots!!!