 RE: Lufthansa
Cutbacks Tip Of The Iceberg
Dear Mr. Arend,
It has been
almost 10 years to the day since I commented on a certain
Mr. Bill’s (negative) statements addressed to
Dr. Andreas Otto criticizing well-balanced price hikes.
Well, time has proven Dr. Andreas right, as predicted
by myself. But that’s history. Having said this,
now, after these 10 years, I’d like to contribute
another 2 cents to “Lufthansa Cutbacks Tip Of
The Iceberg.” I guess, as a 30+ year “veteran”
(now retired) of German Cargo/Lufthansa Cargo, I may
still have enough of a clue to do so.
I am bugged by some of the statements
below the “Iceberg” drawing because during
my career I heard them again and again. Examples:
“Throwing the baby out with
the bath water” is synonymous with "I don’t
have an idea what I am talking about, but I keep on
talking anyway.” Where’s the beef?
If the early retirees didn’t
do all in their power to bring their youngsters up to
speed, they should’ve retired earlier, because
they didn’t perform (at least this part) of their
jobs. And, early retirees are leaving with benefits
and the younger folks are holding onto their jobs. That’s
not bad, is it?
“Re-inventing the wheel” is also something
from (pardon my French) the bullshit bingo handbook.
Could be topic 4, the others being: 1. we have always
done it this way, 2. we have never done it this way,
3. and in general...
While the world around us is striving
for “Industry 4.0,” the air cargo business
is still somewhere in the range of 1.4. Who, other than
the youngsters, is predestined to force major pushes—beyond
(in)famous “Cargo2000?” If they make mistakes,
like re-inventing a spike of the wheel, so be it. Just
keep the error margin low and the wheels spinning.
During my time in operations, handling
the whole of Asia, “East of Suez” was run
by some 90 people. So, in fact, handling was outsourced
all over. Nevertheless, it was the best performing area
worldwide. It might be a different story when it comes
to operating the hubs. But even there the key word was
and still is: process, regardless of outsourced and/or
in-house.
Now I come to the worst part: I was
employee Nr. 13 (lucky number) when I joined German
Cargo (GCS) in 1977; 4 707F, later 5 DC8F. The company
changed a lot, when—early 1990s—it took
over most of Lufthansa’s freighter operation (747F,
737F) and was renamed “Lufthansa Cargo Airlines.”
Freighter Operation! Not anymore!
It is simply ridiculous to compare
a tiny GCS to a comparatively giant Lufthansa Cargo.
It’s even more ridiculous to maintain that GCS
standards kept Lufthansa Cargo going. Maybe there were
a few standards and procedures, but that was a drop
in the ocean. Lufthansa Cargo over time has developed
(further) its own standards and its own “spirit.”
And it did this well.
Noteworthy: GCS was never acquired
by Lufthansa Cargo. It has always been a 100 percent
subsidiary of Lufthansa and was—in 1994—transformed
into Lufthansa Cargo AG. Whoever your source on this
was: tell him to get the basics right.
In order not to waste more of your
time I will stop here with one “famous last sentence”:
Yes, times are difficult and challenging. When haven't
they been? If there’s one thing I feel sorry about,
it’s that unfortunately, I can’t take a
part in fighting challenges anymore.
One more thing: As far as I know,
Ms. Menne is leaving Lufthansa by the end of September.
I wouldn't call such a 3+ months notice “suddenly.”
Sincerely,
Werner Schuessler
Niedernhausen
Germany
Dear
Herr Schuessler,
Thank
you very much for your thoughtful and comprehensive
letter casting a decent and expansive rationale on current
events at Lufthansa Cargo.
In
your opening paragraph you mention an incident long
ago, which involved a UK publication that began in 1983
by taking the name of our publication, which began in
America in 1975.
So
in fact this would be your first comment to us about
an editorial and again my most sincere welcome and thanks.
Point
of fact is we love and have the greatest respect and
affection for Dr. Andreas and hope to have a dessert
sometime with him in Vienna as he labors to lift the
fortunes of Austrian Airlines.
Every
good wish,
Geoffrey
Dear Geoffrey,
Although I admit
Lufthansa Cargo is going through difficult times, I
feel obliged to comment on your recent report. Especially
basing your writing on anonymous sources (why wouldn't
they state their names? Are we still in the inquisition?)
And then in particular, the comments
of a retired source. Knowing from my own experience
(being retired from Lufthansa), you will not and cannot
have enough inside knowledge to judge what is really
going on.
Let it be, the measures taken will
hopefully take the company to a good turn.
There were always those in the forwarding
community who thought service and quality sucks, but
it was proven otherwise.
I believe a little boost and confidence
would do better.
Best regards,
Klaus Holler |
100%
Green