Already stories are appearing on the reinvention of businesses. As some
collapse, others will grow out of that. Can you reinvent your business, no
matter how humble it is?
More than 16,000
passenger jets are grounded worldwide, according to industry researcher Cirium,
as the coronavirus obliterates travel and puts unprecedented strain on airline
finances.
Aircraft are
expensive. A Boeing 737-800 such as Virgin uses is priced in at $82 million
USD. Airlines typically have low margins so very few airlines can afford to pay
cash for all their fleet.
Commercial
aircraft, such as those operated by airlines, finance these Airlines with
sophisticated leases and debt financing schemes. So, a good number of the
planes sitting are costing daily who knows.
There probably
was a real scramble to have financiers settle with debt deferment knowing their
money was now tied up in aircraft that may never fly again and sit in a dry
desert somewhere eventually.
But we need
airlines. Travel has become a part of the world we live in, we need freight
moved around Australia and like New Zealand as other airlines have closed, we
need “locals” who can carry freight into the Australasian markets.
The Air New
Zealand bail out came quicker than what is starting to progress in Australia. The
New Zealand government has agreed to bail out the nation’s only major airline,
Air New Zealand, with a $NZ900 million ($891 million Aus.) loan facility if it
were to run out of cash amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The airline’s
chairman Therese Walsh “The loan facility ensures that Air New Zealand can
continue to play a vital role in connecting New Zealanders and our businesses
with each other here at home and around the world.”
The writer is
also thankful that part of the deal was that Air New Zealand was to keep
flights operating “across the ditch” and was able to return on one of two
flights a week out of Auckland to Melbourne and occupied his part of the cabin
as the only passenger.
But since then
things have started to happen. Yes, most staff have been stood down most of the
planes are grounded but the Airline seems to be reinventing itself.
Air New
Zealand has been contracted by European Governments to fly thousands of visitor’s
homes and the repatriation flight business for a short time anyway is proving a
useful revenue. It’s been contracted by the German and Dutch governments to
either meet planes or take citizens home. The airline has also made flights to
Seoul. The Governments are under writing the flights that make them very
commercial. Its also involved in getting Kiwis home from places the airline has
never flown before.
The Airline
now run ad-hock freight services between New Zealand and its major trade partners.
There are stories in the New Zealand Press that seats are being stripped out of
the planes as they become major freight carriers.
A good friend of my sister’s son is a pilot for Air New Zealand, and he has kept his job because he is an instructor in the simulators. He is teaching pilots to land at new airfields where freight is to be delivered.
Foreign
Affairs Minister of New Zealand Winston Peters has hinted at a potential
“trans-Tasman bubble” of relaxed border restrictions between New
Zealand and Australia if both nations can progress in their response to the
coronavirus pandemic.
In Australia,
the cash strapped and close to administration Virgin Airlines is being “slightly”
cashed up by the Federal Airlines and the Queensland Government to get back in
the Air, but who known if there will be a Virgin Plane in the Air after
administration – not as Virgin Airlines anyway.
Australia has
a considerable road network, but planes carrying freight and not necessarily
people is needed in the Air. The funds for Virgin won’t save it but will keep
it going. There is also funding for Qantas to have flights, especially for
freight.
We need planes
in Australia. We need freight moved before people. I guess it’s a long, long
way before we plan a Bali holiday, but because of need there is reinvention
going on in this industry even for freight.
So, what has this to do with you?
As we keep
working or recover from the shock of what happens or look to the horizon of
work in the future one thing is certain, we will need to re-invent in some way
our business.
Think of all
the skills you have.
A domestic
home builder who can organize contractors could also take new Government
contracts in the commercial field. If you understand any trade, there is
endless variations available to you,
Planes fly.
So, one day you move people, the next you are in the freight business, one day
you are a domestic plumber, now you are a roof specialist.
You are going
to survive this and again flourish. Your participation can make all the difference
to your future.
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