BA’s Willie Walsh praises Emirates Airline
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ritish Airways CEO Willie Walsh has praised Emirates Airline as “a rational commercial carrier” during his keynote speech at last week’s Business Travel Market (BTM) at London ExCeL (16 and 17 June)
However, he agreed with a comment made at the recent IATA conference that “three hubs in such a small area may be reduced to two in the future”, referring to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
He conceded that Emirates was “a bit of competition for BA”, and also stressed that the absence of the third runway at London Heathrow provided increasing opportunities for the Middle East to position itself even more strongly as a worldwide hub.
On the hot topic of BA cabin crew strike action and transport union Unite, Walsh said he believed there was a “gulf between the views of Unite and those of the large majority of cabin crew”.
He was adamant that if there was to be further industrial action, BA would aim to fly 100% of its long-haul flights.
When probed if he would lobby for a third runway at Heathrow, Walsh said he was not going to “waste time and energy pursuing this bid” but would “look at current access opportunities”.
Walsh also outlined his commitment to both long haul and short haul travel and was adamant that transatlantic business remained robust.
He claimed that had it not been for the downturn, BA would have already expanded its network further in the USA and potential further routes to long haul destinations from London City Airport with Boston, Washington and Chicago mooted as possibilities.
Future plans for BA, he revealed, included joining the International Airline Consolidated Group (IACG).
Walsh also outlined plans to re-introduce apprenticeships at BA and his continued commitment to the current graduate training scheme to ensure investment in the airline’s talent pipeline.
Next year’s BTM will take place on 15 and 16 June. Visit www.businesstravelmarket.co.uk
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