IS BEING loyal to a company a thing of the past?
It certainly appears so judging by the movement of staff between those two arch-rivals, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
But this week, Backchat was taken aback when discovering a senior move between the two brands with none other than BA’s Robert Ayling helping to rescue ‘friend’ Richard Branson’s problem-struck Virgin Trains. Has Branson turned to his arch-enemy to improve the public perception of his train operation?
On first impressions, it is difficult to imagine. But on close examination, it is far from the truth.
For Virgin Train’s Robert Ayling, only recently with British Airways’ franchise carrier Maersk Air, has often been confused with his namesake – BA’s chief executive.
Maersk’s Ayling has many a time been treated like royalty at Heathrow, Gatwick and BA’s outstations by staff thinking it’s the chief himself.
He has now been given the task to help rescue Branson’s ailing train services and help spruce up the operator’s image.
Will BA’s Ayling ever team up with Branson? Now there’s an interesting thought to ponderÉ