The bosses of major airlines always complain when something gets in the way of their goals. IATA speaks of 4,500 cancelled flights during the French strikes against the measures of Emmanuel Macron's government. Some 730,000 passengers were affected.
This is a. IATA study that would like to influence the debate on the issue, directing the attention solely on the airlines’ profit losses. Don’t be fooled by the figure of 730,000 passengers. They are using this number to avoid saying they lost a load of money. If they really cared about passengers, the airlines would return the Covid refunds. Instead many of them still have that money - we are talking about billions of euro - and are holding tightly on to it. If they care that much about passengers, why don't they return the money?
At this point the question for all of us, who are mere penpushers and not airline bosses is, are the French right to strike over a crazy reform that extends the retirement age for everyone? The answer is yes. Because it is fair that after a long working life everyone can retire with financial security and when they are still in good shape, rather than merely moving from their desk to their grave.
We don’t give a fig if airlines are not making profits when the reason for this loss is far more important than all their margins.
Giuseppe Aloe
Editor in Chief
