Comm tonight from CEO24 Nov 2020 21:05
Not invested, but this is a great communication
I was honoured to re-join British Airways in October as its CEO.
After 20 years at the airline, in 2018 I went to work as CEO with the superb team at our sister carrier, Aer Lingus. Of course, much has changed in the intervening two years, not just at British Airways, but across the world.
Like many of our current and former BA colleagues, I watched from a distance last month as British Airways waved an emotional goodbye to the Queen of the Skies - our Boeing 747 jumbo jets - as they left Heathrow for the very last time. It was a sobering sight and a stark reminder that life may never return to what we had so happily taken for granted.
Since then of course, parts of Britain have had to contend with further lockdown measures, necessary to stop the spread of Covid-19 and save lives. And many of the countries we miss seeing are also facing tough restrictions that limit not only our ability to fly, but our opportunity for freedom.
We know that you, our customers, are dealing with the life-changing consequences this crisis has brought. We have been separated from our families, friends and colleagues and had to make life choices which have caused considerable pain and required tremendous resilience.
But that stoicism is what makes Britain and British Airways great. Our world has been turned upside down and our business has had to change and continues to adapt to the challenges we face. We are a smaller team, but the size of our ambition has not changed. I am humbled to have been asked to lead the British Airways team into its second century and as we strive together to maintain and rebuild an airline which makes the nation proud, we will ensure that you sit at the heart of our decisions, always.
I know that the sight of a red, white and blue tailfin when you’re far from home, the reassuring voice of a British Airways pilot and the offer of a cup of tea from a crew member means everything. If the pandemic has taught us anything it’s the value of simple pleasures, the importance of kindness and it has reminded us of what we can achieve when we work together.
As I re-join British Airways, on behalf of our airline family, I want to thank you for the support you’ve shown over the past few months and for the trust you continue to place in us. We never take your loyalty for granted and without you we are all aware that our business would not be operating. We will continue to keep you safe, and we hope that with your support British Airways will soar again.
We hope to see you in the coming months as restrictions ease and to be able to welcome you at some point with a visible smile to show our gratitude.
Until then, we wish you and your families well.
Thank you,
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