Originally Posted by
Itsajob
They don’t necessarily have to maintain flying. If demand comes back at a reduced level, due to something like a pandemic causing a global recession, the demand for labor is also reduced. The airlines have shrunk with attrition lots of times. They could also change the business model. If they decide that reduced frequency on larger planes is the new answer, that would require fewer crews as well. We’re all along for the ride, hopefully it doesn’t get too rough.
I unfortunately am leaning now towards the above regarding changing their business model to come back slowly to meet the demand accordingly by right shape sizing. No one knows for sure but you can better grasp of what’s going on at the core. The big hit is they are not the first ones actually doing this. Businesses are getting savvy with video teleconferencing (VTC) yet again and savings costs they literally forgot about, but now are reminded of. Let’s not forget having employees with home offices devalues brick and mortar real estate costs, building codes, no utilities, or TP, just a tax right off if possible. Travel, hotels per diem are operating costs. This generation craves such ease of life measures as it pseudo emulates a GIG economy on a smaller scale. Heck, honestly I would too. Work during the week when I want, obscure hours at my choice and have food delivery rather than stuck in a cubicle from 8-5 M-F or more when I did it (was 9-5), even weekend access to employees. This is dangerously efficient and I would be wrong to assume the bean counters aren’t crunching numbers right now. Service providers such as large restaurants which seems to be laying workers off vs furloughing them and bringing them back. Several individuals interviewed said they thought this was temporary and go back to work when it gets back up and running soon after the lock down was over here in NYC. Employers indicating right sizing, doing more with less. How could they not accomplish this with a surge of unemployed most likely willing to work even harder, longer and for less. We see plenty of this normal type of discussions/proposals on this forum as an example. Parents of 54 million children mandated for home schooling, picking up study materials and trying to work this out and work at home just announced. It’s far deeper than leisure travel taking a hit as people dip into savings if they have any. Every day counts but who knows where the break even point is to lift lockdown and get back to work too early and spread again. But they now have a deal on the Relief Bill. Hope it works well. 3AM Eastern 25 Mar. Spike seems to be coming. Hate this, just being frank.