That Was The Week That Was 16-20 October 2023
What is so complicated about this?
Last week, you may recall, I argued that the capacity crunch in aviation was entirely our own fault, try as we might to shift the blame elsewhere, because you get the capacity you pay for. Our refusal to pay for spare and stand-by capacity is now becoming a real issue for the industry, but still we look elsewhere for the answers, mystified that the answers are not there. Or perhaps more accurately, we look elsewhere for the blame, instead of looking in the mirror.
On cue. IATA helped our understanding this week with a chart. The chart of the week, no less. A picture being worth a thousand words and all that, you might think that would make things clear. Well, it did, but then subtracting two words from the thousand on the table, IATA muddied the water by noting that ‘it’s complicated’ as if the situation about capacity shortages in aviation are akin to relationships on Facebook.
Is it complicated? What exactly is complicated about this chart? What precisely does IATA not get? Look at the chart and explain to me what is complicated, if you would be so kind? You have 998 remaining words to use.
The chart says one thing, but it says it in very uncomplicated language. If you want people to work for you, you are going to have to pay them more. Maybe even a living wage. What about that is complicated? We spent years outsourcing employment and demanding that things like ground handling be cheaper and cheaper. Wages went done to the lowest bid. Oh how clever we were.
Once the people that had worked for airlines lost their status as airline employees, lost their flight privileges and their sense of team, and then once the pandemic hit, their jobs, they went and found work elsewhere. Places that did not require them to work outdoors in all weather, to work split shifts, to work under stress. Places like Amazon fulfilment centres – yes those paragons of perfect employment.
So now, it is not complicated at all, it is just economic common sense. If we want to get over the labour shortage in aviation, we are going to have to meet the market with competitive pay. Give that a try. See what happens.