SriLankan Airlines losses owing to political influence and not systems failures – RCB Poll reveals
View(s):Contrasting views have been expressed in two polls carried out by the Business Times (BT) and polling partner, Research Consultancy Bureau (RCB) on the future of debt-ridden SriLankan Airlines. Questions were asked from respondents on whether SriLankan Airlines (SLA) should cut routes; hand over management and part ownership to another operator; operated as a regional airline or retain ownership and hand over management only. The results of the BT poll were carried in its April 10 edition. See: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160410/business-times/handover-srilankan-management-bt-poll-188990.html
The results of the RCB poll ascertaining street views among over 300 respondents came in later due to the intervening holidays.
The results of both polls are given here. Also below are excerpts from comments made in the street poll:
- Sri Lanka has only 27 planes while Emirates has around 250 planes. How do you compete with this wide gap particularly on West Asian routes?
- Productive flights are only to Europe and the Middle East. Hence all other flights need to be discontinued.
- Most of the staff at Sri Lankan Airlines are efficient but they are not tapped to the fullest.
- Staff needs to be pruned by at least by 40 per cent.
- No periodical audits have been made of the airline.
- Deployment of Air Hostesses with a good command of the English Language is needed. They also need re-training courses every six months. They also need to be more knowledgeable.
- State must have 60 per cent control even if the management (and ownership) changes.
- Stop political appointments to managerial positions with no experience.
- Emirates has been irresponsible in managing the assets of Sri Lankan Airlines.
- Stop politicization and corruption in the institution.
- Losses are mainly due to political influence and not due to system failures.
- Stop flights operated on the needs of political objectives.
- Slash ticket prices.
- The state must move out of management. Every government has appointed political affiliates who lack knowledge of the subject to high positions.
- We must have a national airline for our identity. Don’t completely privatise the airline.
- Utilize efficient local manpower available in the field and manage the airline. Privatization is not the solution.
- Need for a management without political interference while maintaining independence.
- Privatisation is no solution. The buildings which SriLankan Airlines owns have disappeared. The building that existed in Colombo 4 is no more. What is needed is efficient management and not full privatization. Select young and efficient staff. Stop wastage.
- Dealing with Emirates has resulted in heavy losses to the national carrier by way of movable assets and depreciated stock value.
