Text 24417, 94 rader
Skriven 2012-05-04 16:00:00 av Glen Jamieson
     Kommentar till en text av Michael Loo
Ärende: 1 T/O 1 L 595 20504
===========================
 -=> Quoting Michael Loo to Glen Jamieson <=-

 ML> Not so at all - the requirement of the airline is to remain
 ML> fiscally intact, providing ego boost to the owners, who know
 ML> full well that profit is elusive.
 GJ> The original _"purpose"_ an airline is established is to make money.

 ML> Hardly. Having encountered some of the entrepreneurs who have
 ML> founded airlines and read about others, I can tell you right off
 ML> that ego boost appears to be the prime mover. Making money is a
 ML> smoke screen. These people are, though emotionally needy, not
 ML> complete dolts and do realize that profits are few and far between
 ML> in the industry. Every major carrier in the US has bankrupted at
 ML> least once, except Alaska.

I have to admit that most of the first airlines in Australia, such as
Qantas, were started by aviators who loved flying, and the idea of
being paid as well appealed, but eventually they found that making
money was essential for their survival.  That is when the bean
counters became involved.  Now Qantas is run by "that little Irish
git!" as one of his critics called him.   Re the ego boost, the
airline started by Reg and inherited by Ted Ansett would be the most
obvious example.
 
 GJ> Passengers only become at all profitable when the train journey is
 GJ> part of a package, including hotels and entertainment along the way.

 ML> This has not worked too well in the larger markets. For
 ML> example, in the case I am most familar with, United's
 ML> diversification into the hotel business (Westin, Hilton) and
 ML> the car rental business (Hertz) had disastrous results.

Great Southern Rail, which runs the long distance East-West and
North-South trains, has been running at a loss, but has been bought by
a USAn train company (forgotten the name), and there is more
concentration on the "romance of rail" and treating the trains more
like a land-based cruise ship.  They have introduced the Southern
Explorer, which takes a leisurely 6 days to go from Brisbane to
Adelaide via Melbourne (but misses Sydney), stops at all sorts of
interesting places along the way - and costs about $4000 for the trip.
 
 GJ> less untouched.  With that way out, they can keep going for as long as
 GJ> they can stay ahead of FAA regulators and inspectors.
 ML> You know nothing about how the United States works,
 ML> you do know that, no?
 GJ> I have to admit that my thoughts were not with the honourable,
 GJ> upright, squeaky clean operators in USA, but with other, lesser, world
 GJ> airlines that you and I have been forced to use on occasions.

 ML> Who else is under FAA jurisdiction?

The other, lesser, world airlines of course use other, lesser,
equivalent regulators.

The most recent news I heard was that the despicable Lufthansa-Air
France had a record loss, and was on its last wings.  And Qantas has
deferred delivery of its next 2 A380s.

The secret to running a profitable airline seems to be employing
low-cost Asian (or Kiwi) aircrews and maintenance staff.

MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: Peanut Chicken Wings
 Categories: Appetizer, Poultry
      Yield: 15 Servings
 
     50    Chicken wings
      2    12 oz bottles beer
      1 c  Molasses
    3/4 c  Peanut butter, creamy style
    1/2 c  Lemon juice
    1/2 c  Worcestershire sauce
    1/4 c  Prepared mustard
    3/4 ts Salt
  2 1/2 tb Chili powder
    1/4 c  Chopped parsley for garnish
  1 1/2    Lemons for garnish
 
  Preheat oven to 450. Get rid of the wing tips and cut each wing into
  two pieces. Combine remaining ingredients except parsely and lemon in
  a saucepan. Over low heat cook for about 15 minutes until reduced and
  thickened to the consistency of thick gravy. Place wings in a shallow
  baking pan and cover with sauce, making sure each is well coated.
  Bake for 15-20 minutes. Garnish with the green and yellow stuff.
  From: Ed Kish Date: 15 May 94
 
MMMMM
 

___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]

--- FLAME v2.0/b
 * Origin: Braintap BBS Adelaide Australia (3:800/449)