Countries have always had some sense of pride in their national airlines.
I remember, many years ago, how much I respected Swissair because it represented efficiency and security.
As a young boy, I always felt that Alitalia represented the chic that Italy stood for. There was flair about the design of their literature.
Olympic has always stood for Greece and, though erratic on the service front, the engineering has always been superb.
Long-haul carriers have never meant much to me because, believe it or not, I’ve never travelled long haul on any of the legendary carriers such as Thai or Singapore.
Then, of course, there were BOAC and BEA representing the very essence of everything British.
You knew you were in safe hands. There was no doubt that, after privatisation, British Airways represented the very best of Britain.
Yes, I suppose these organisations were dinosaurs in many ways, but there was national pride in what they stood for.
Look what’s happening now. From where I stand Alitalia now seems to be a part of KLM. The magic has gone and I am sure that, from the UK, the identity of the airline will soon disappear.
A traditional route such as Pisa is now served not by Alitalia but by British Airways.
The airline no longer serves national interest but commercial shareholder interests. It could well be that, in the future, Rome may not be worth flying to either!
SAS has all but disappeared from London. Whoever hears of them anymore? The Star Alliance now represents them and Lufthansa is the dominant partner here.
Sabena seems to have disappeared somewhere under Swissair’s wing and TAP, too, looks as if it is to relinquish 34% ownership to Swissair.
Will these alliances serve national interests? Are some countries incapable of running their own airlines?
Olympic has been ailing for many years and is now managed by British Airways. In fact, British Airways could well take a 10% to 20% shareholding in the airline.
I know that for some there is great shame in the fact that British Airways is effectively managing the Greek national airline. British Airways, as the dominant partner in the OneWorld Alliance, is likely to pursue its own agenda and look after its own interests first rather than those of Greece or its national carrier.
Once the direction and the management and systems come under British Airways’ control then it will be very difficult to go back again.
British Airways will decide where Olympic is to fly and there is no doubt that a British Airways based in Athens will be able to exert considerable control over Balkan routes.
Slowly but surely control is slipping away from national interests and hardly for the benefit of the consumer.
These alliances will be so enormous and impersonal that no-one will be able to get a decision out of anyone.
I don’t like it at all, but perhaps I’m too old. I also know that many in the airline world don’t like it either. In the end these organisations will be answerable to no-one. I feel it is wrong and I find it sinister in the extreme.