Cyprus-Forum.com

[CyprusNewsReport]

It's about time experts were brought in to do some serious thinking.

When it comes to profit making, Cypriots ARE international experts!

Usually I respect Cypriot business, appreciate that entrepreneurial spirit, but this is not a good example

[CyprusNewsReport]

Now then GR and O, are you trying to tell us that Cyprus Airways does not consist of an overstaffed, overpaid, politically appointed workforce? Most of these buggers do FA, and that included the rat that left the sinking ship, Lazarides!

I don't know what the situation is now, but I know that 10 years ago the CA pilots were paid more than BA Concorde pilots!

Your point being what exactly?

Happy staff ...

Very happy until the company disintegrates from under them, because the RoC Government is not able to subsidise these leeches forever! It is anti competitive and against EU Law!

The Airline needs to be completely overhauled and restructured! End of!

Privatisation is the only way forward!

Agree with that, back to some good old-fashioned capitalist principles, ie...don't lose gazillions of euros of our money!

[Paphitis]

Now then GR and O, are you trying to tell us that Cyprus Airways does not consist of an overstaffed, overpaid, politically appointed workforce? Most of these buggers do FA, and that included the rat that left the sinking ship, Lazarides!

I don't know what the situation is now, but I know that 10 years ago the CA pilots were paid more than BA Concorde pilots!

Your point being what exactly?

Happy staff ...

Very happy until the company disintegrates from under them, because the RoC Government is not able to subsidise these leeches forever! It is anti competitive and against EU Law!

The Airline needs to be completely overhauled and restructured! End of!

Privatisation is the only way forward!

Agree with that, back to some good old-fashioned capitalist principles, ie...don't lose gazillions of euros of our money!

No, it has nothing to do with Capitalism! All Aviation companies need to rationalize their business from time to time in order to survive. You need to do some more research.

[CyprusNewsReport]

Now then GR and O, are you trying to tell us that Cyprus Airways does not consist of an overstaffed, overpaid, politically appointed workforce? Most of these buggers do FA, and that included the rat that left the sinking ship, Lazarides!

I don't know what the situation is now, but I know that 10 years ago the CA pilots were paid more than BA Concorde pilots!

Your point being what exactly?

Happy staff ...

Very happy until the company disintegrates from under them, because the RoC Government is not able to subsidise these leeches forever! It is anti competitive and against EU Law!

The Airline needs to be completely overhauled and restructured! End of!

Privatisation is the only way forward!

Agree with that, back to some good old-fashioned capitalist principles, ie...don't lose gazillions of euros of our money!

No, it has nothing to do with Capitalism! All Aviation companies need to rationalize their business from time to time in order to survive. You need to do some more research.

Makari it's my lack of research and not CA's lack of managerial efficiency that has put it completely in the red. That way we'd all be better off, I don't mind being wrong, I do mind the taxpayer's money being wasted. Have spent many, many hours working my z%&$** off to pay those taxes, don't know how others feel, but i see my tax money as an investment in the country's economy. After all, I could live anywhere in the EU and before you all start telling me to bugger off to France, why the hell should I? What is unreasonable about asking the government to manage its business properly?

[Paphitis]

Now then GR and O, are you trying to tell us that Cyprus Airways does not consist of an overstaffed, overpaid, politically appointed workforce? Most of these buggers do FA, and that included the rat that left the sinking ship, Lazarides!

I don't know what the situation is now, but I know that 10 years ago the CA pilots were paid more than BA Concorde pilots!

Your point being what exactly?

Happy staff ...

Very happy until the company disintegrates from under them, because the RoC Government is not able to subsidise these leeches forever! It is anti competitive and against EU Law!

The Airline needs to be completely overhauled and restructured! End of!

Privatisation is the only way forward!

Agree with that, back to some good old-fashioned capitalist principles, ie...don't lose gazillions of euros of our money!

No, it has nothing to do with Capitalism! All Aviation companies need to rationalize their business from time to time in order to survive. You need to do some more research.

Makari it's my lack of research and not CA's lack of managerial efficiency that has put it completely in the red. That way we'd all be better off, I don't mind being wrong, I do mind the taxpayer's money being wasted. Have spent many, many hours working my z%&$** off to pay those taxes, don't know how others feel, but i see my tax money as an investment in the country's economy. After all, I could live anywhere in the EU and before you all start telling me to bugger off to France, why the hell should I? What is unreasonable about asking the government to manage its business properly?

Well then just consider the fact that your tax Euros are going towards bailing out a very vital and important national resource, because the RoC Government can't really afford the Cy Air Brand name going down the drain. It is our National Carrier.

Secondly, Cy Air probably has some very capable managers, who are more than able to run the airline efficiently but are unable to because the Public Sector unions control the airline as well as the wasteful and inefficient RoC Government which should basically steer clear of Aviation all together. That is why it has become imperative to sell the company as well as rationalise the company, and once private owners move in, then they will do everything in their power to overhaul the airline in order to make it profitable, and this will involve mass retrenchments of staff, including Pilots. Much disruption will need to be endured as the company will be on the receiving end of crippling industrial action, but there will be no other choice. Aircraft will be grounded for some time.

[Oracle]

I agree with Paphitis. CA is more than just transport!

Sadly, perhaps due to foreign influence, too many of my compatriots have forgotten that Cyprus is our baby and like every regular GC parent, we nurture with unconditional love and endless financial support.

Each country is unique; so let others sell off their assets and responsibilities and impose fiscal performance criteria. They do not have the relentless external problems to face that Cyprus has. Cyprus can only thrive if we are unselfish.

[CyprusNewsReport]

I agree with Paphitis. CA is more than just transport!

Sadly, perhaps due to foreign influence, too many of my compatriots have forgotten that Cyprus is our baby and like every regular GC parent, we nurture with unconditional love and endless financial support.

Each country is unique; so let others sell off their assets and responsibilities and impose fiscal performance criteria. They do not have the relentless external problems to face that Cyprus has. Cyprus can only thrive if we are unselfish.

You're right. We all have to contribute and I do so gladly! I don't agree with the foreign influence comment though. Good business practices are just good business practices, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, and there are no sinister forces beneath the surface.

But let's look at this 'foreign influence' comment - there is a hell of a lot of competition in 2010, CA does not have a monopoly anymore - but what did you expect after we joined one of the biggest free markets in the world? Out of our own choice, I remind you.

[CyprusNewsReport]

Now then GR and O, are you trying to tell us that Cyprus Airways does not consist of an overstaffed, overpaid, politically appointed workforce? Most of these buggers do FA, and that included the rat that left the sinking ship, Lazarides!

I don't know what the situation is now, but I know that 10 years ago the CA pilots were paid more than BA Concorde pilots!

Your point being what exactly?

Happy staff ...

Very happy until the company disintegrates from under them, because the RoC Government is not able to subsidise these leeches forever! It is anti competitive and against EU Law!

The Airline needs to be completely overhauled and restructured! End of!

Privatisation is the only way forward!

Agree with that, back to some good old-fashioned capitalist principles, ie...don't lose gazillions of euros of our money!

No, it has nothing to do with Capitalism! All Aviation companies need to rationalize their business from time to time in order to survive. You need to do some more research.

Makari it's my lack of research and not CA's lack of managerial efficiency that has put it completely in the red. That way we'd all be better off, I don't mind being wrong, I do mind the taxpayer's money being wasted. Have spent many, many hours working my z%&$** off to pay those taxes, don't know how others feel, but i see my tax money as an investment in the country's economy. After all, I could live anywhere in the EU and before you all start telling me to bugger off to France, why the hell should I? What is unreasonable about asking the government to manage its business properly?

Well then just consider the fact that your tax Euros are going towards bailing out a very vital and important national resource, because the RoC Government can't really afford the Cy Air Brand name going down the drain. It is our National Carrier.

Secondly, Cy Air probably has some very capable managers, who are more than able to run the airline efficiently but are unable to because the Public Sector unions control the airline as well as the wasteful and inefficient RoC Government which should basically steer clear of Aviation all together. That is why it has become imperative to sell the company as well as rationalise the company, and once private owners move in, then they will do everything in their power to overhaul the airline in order to make it profitable, and this will involve mass retrenchments of staff, including Pilots. Much disruption will need to be endured as the company will be on the receiving end of crippling industrial action, but there will be no other choice. Aircraft will be grounded for some time.

I think that's a fair analysis - CA staff will most likely strike even in the scenario that the two companies are simply merged, not privatised - so where is their unselfish and patriotic attitude? Why should the taxpayers be the suckers for those employees which make a lot more money than the average employee, but are still not happy, cooperative or service-oriented because they belong in the public sector?

Rationalise, please rationalise!

[CBBB]

I agree with Paphitis. CA is more than just transport!

Sadly, perhaps due to foreign influence, too many of my compatriots have forgotten that Cyprus is our baby and like every regular GC parent, we nurture with unconditional love and endless financial support.

Each country is unique; so let others sell off their assets and responsibilities and impose fiscal performance criteria. They do not have the relentless external problems to face that Cyprus has. Cyprus can only thrive if we are unselfish.

CA is not an asset, it is a liability!

[Paphitis]

I agree with Paphitis. CA is more than just transport!

Sadly, perhaps due to foreign influence, too many of my compatriots have forgotten that Cyprus is our baby and like every regular GC parent, we nurture with unconditional love and endless financial support.

Each country is unique; so let others sell off their assets and responsibilities and impose fiscal performance criteria. They do not have the relentless external problems to face that Cyprus has. Cyprus can only thrive if we are unselfish.

The Aviation Industry is a very unique industry. Margins are razor thin at the moment and it is important to run a very lean ship.

I'm afraid there is no other option but to privatise in order to completely overhaul the company by employing foreign expertise that has experience in turning around an overburdened and crippled airline. It is very important that airlines do not overburden themselves with middle management, but instead invest to recruit the best pilots and engineers which keep the aircraft flying. Obviously, as stated, it might be necessary to try and poach very senior CEOs from other Airlines such as QANTAS, Emirates or Singapore, who will just come in and rustle the feathers of the unions and any underperforming middle managers and loosen the tight grip of the unions, by purging the staff and replacing them with any local talent at first as well as foreign staff to fill in the gaps in the short term. Employing senior management from overseas will not be cheap, but again very necessary!

A privatised Cy Air will mostly still be Cypriot owned because Cypriots and fund managers will purchase the bulk of the shares. The RoC Government will be able to legislate and restrict the number of shares that go to foreign hands to 49%. But privatisation of the inefficiently run National Carrier, will give rise to new opportunities. For example, the airline will be able to purchase or lease newer aircraft, explore new Trans Atlantic routes and other routes to Japan, China, Singapore and Australia. This should be the objective for our National Carrier!

Yes, it is very important to protect Cy Air, because it is a valuable resource for the country, and it is a bloody good airline and brand. Potentially, it can be in the same league as QANTAS, Singapore, and Emirates, even though it will not be as big. Just like the Flying Kangaroo (also privatised now), which is an excellent ambassador for Australia, the Flying Mouflon could and should be an equally great ambassador for Cyprus, not just in Europe and the Middle East, but also in Asia, the Asia Pacific and North America. If Cy Air continues as is, then the future is not bright, and eventually the Flying Mouflon will fold! We see this in aviation time and time again!

This is what we as Cypriots should hope for in our National Carrier! Otherwise, the Flying Mouflon will crash and burn!