Airline passenger news and views

I have been uncharacteristically undecided in my views of Willie Walsh.

My first instinct was that I did not like him. He reminded me of Michael Edwardes, the very combative CEO of British Leyland in the 1980’s.

Edwardes took on a company that was in self-destruct mode, torn by Union strife and producing vehicles that were transformed from world leaders to uncompetitive rubbish. He fought and won but probably destroyed the company in the process. I am not sure that he did anything wrong – it was just one of those impossible situations.

I look at BA in a similar light. The airline had some great days. Lord king was a leader in the right place at the right time and he will generally be remembered with affection and respect for his time at the top. It seems to have all gone downhill since then.

Willie Wash is clearly a tough corporate cookie. He has taken on the unions and, despite the remaining ragbag of threatened strikes, has clearly won.

What Walsh has also done, and this is where my jury is still out, is to recognize the importance of size and market consolidation. I strongly dislike the idea but have to accept that, in the next few years, size will matter. Big airlines will survive, passengers will suffer and the smaller operators will be swallowed up or be lost.

The BA-Iberia tie up frightens me but I do see its economic logic. The BA-Iberia and American Airlines alliance may still be a big step too far and risks putting far too much power, not to mention Heathrow landing slots, in the hands of one company.

There are a plethora of arguments to be considered and much of this may be good for Britain and protect London’s position as a centre of business travel. But, how about me with my hard-earned trips to the USA? How about Mr and Mrs Smith and their two-children off to Disney Land?

There will always be winners and losers. My worry is that Willie Walsh may win whilst BA and its customers may still suffer. Echoes of British Leyland?