COMMENT: Monty Python's Life of Brian
This is normally the time of year when airlines and airports vigorously launch new routes and tell of their ambitious upcoming summer programmes. The services that are dropped are quietly forgotten. British Airways introduced its innovative (for them) services from London City Airport to Paris and Frankfurt in style (Glasgow now follows in May), Manchester celebrated with new flights to the Middle East and a major upgrade to Singapore, whilst down on the south coat Southampton Airport rejoiced as it joined the budget airline revolution, FLyBE making it one of their hubs. To a lesser or greater extent airports all over Europe (and no doubt elsewhere too) have tried to put a brave front on a situation which is fast developing as the greatest airline crisis in modern times. What has happened now is a very serious slowdown in traffic just as the carriers have started to recover from 11 September. Unlike the Gulf War a decade back this time they are being hit on two fronts. As noted in ABTN last week SARS is having a very serious effect on travelling in the Far East, and also now in Canada and other countries half a globe away. Walk through any airport at this time and it is very civilised, too civilised. It is very worrying but airlines, and indeed the world”s economy is more robust than we like to think. There are going to be some serious casualties in business (and leisure) travel over the next few months.
If you are into sport a song was penned by Eric Idle some years back for Monty Python”s Life of Brian. It was effectively taken over by Tottenham Hotspur football club (and is still relevant ” although it could also be added to Leeds United ” both teams having the same manager at one time).
"Always look on the bright side". Things will get worse before they get better, but they will always get better.