VituVingiSana wrote:I am critical of the pilots/KALPA. KAWU too.
They want all the benefits without the pain.
I still say that "Old KQ" should be put into administration. Form "New KQ" and give it to the creditors. Let New KQ choose what assets it wants. What staff it wants. New negotiations on wages/remuneration. Only debt that New KQ should take on would be asset related eg a plane under a SPV given the plane and its loan are inter-linked.
Ditch toxic assets and staff. Let the staff also take a significant ownership stake in New KQ over time.
Currently, KALPA and KAWU are bloodsuckers. They are bleeding the taxpayer dry.
The problem with KQ has always been the senior management. These Unions you are bashing have always been on the side of the taxpayer. From the first time project Mawingu was announced who do you think waa the first to oppose it and point out its loopholes? KALPA. But the likes of Naikuni went ahead and this almost collapsed KQ. Ethiopian copied project Mawingu but did a steady growth, staggered aircraft orders, didn't take kickbacks and now they are the biggest in Africa. Who do you think called out the improper practices in various departments? When Ghana offered KQ permission for them to position two aircraft to seeve the Wesr African circuit, who refused? When Nigeria had no qualms with KQ flying the Nigerian direct from Dubai and China to Lagos, who refused? Who run down a profitable cargo section so that another company can grow in its place? Kalpa? KAWU?
Before blaming the Unions as bloodsuckers, you should aak around any crew you know the last time they went on leave. Ask the crew planners how many times they have to call people from their day offs. Go to KCAA and ask how many hours the crew, the ground staff are working in a year as opposed to maximum.
The truth is that the management has always and will always use pay as an execuse for their failings. When the likes of Naikuni sponsored the formation of CDL as a tool to reduce Cabin crew costs, look at how the onboard servixe levels deteriorated, ask how much was saved from the reduction of the pay-close to nothing.
Kenya is a liberalised economy. You can't expect the staff to be paid the same as what Ethiopian pays. You can't survive with that kind of money in Kenya in this kind of job that can not allow you to run a proper side business. And mind you, when kq staff when they go to work there get paid as expatriates far better than what KQ is paying. Even Rwanda air is paying expatriates better than what KQ pays-lets not talk about Emirates and Qatar-those are in another league. For pilots, benefits aside, even Jambojet is paying their Q400 pilots better than what entry level guys at Embraer are being paid
KQ needs to grow to make money. Execuses by management will not help. The government needs to decide whether it wants KQ to be private or fully owned. If they want to close it and start a new airline, fine. If they close it kabisa, that's fine also. Life will go on. Jet Airways finally collapsed yesterday with 20000 employees out of work, watakufa?