Challenges Faced by British Airways and Staff due to COVID-19

This report discusses the challenges faced by British Airways and its staff due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores the impact of the pandemic on the airline industry, including job losses and reduced business travel. The report also examines the strategies implemented by British Airways to mitigate the effects of the pandemic and the potential impact of these strategies. Additionally, a reflective report is included, discussing the key skills developed while preparing the research report.

British Airways

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Company overview......................................................................................................................3
Key challenges currently facing BA and staff.............................................................................3
Potential impact of strategies.......................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
Part 2................................................................................................................................................8
Reflective Report.........................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
COVID 19 have grounded airlines all over the world and halted air travels with economic
consequences rippling far beyond the sector. Airlines industry around the world have expected
their loss of record $84 billion in 2020, which is 3 times more than global financial crisis. In
addition, business travel also faced same kind of sluggish and dramatic changes all around the
industry.
British airways are a flag airline of United Kingdom headquartered in UK. The company
provide full worldwide air cargo services and well established with scheduled passenger service.
BA have the major impact of COVID-19 on the both passenger and cargo service. In this report
there will be discussion on the current challenges and issues faced by company with management
of employee due to adverse impact on pandemic. The report will also have reflective report on
the key skill development while preparing the research report .
MAIN BODY
Company overview
British airways have been established aircraft transport and travel company providing full
worldwide air cargo services along with scheduled passenger services. The firm tends to provide
large number of destination flights in more than 150 countries. British airways in the part of
international airlines formed due to merger of British airways and Liberia.
The firm operates with huge worldwide alliance among different air companies such as
japan airlines and operate flights between Europe and japan. There is two loyalty programmes
run by British airways which is executive club ad Avios in three different sectors of the world.
The sector are UK, US and rest of the world.
British airways have major priority to safety passengers. British airways workers acts as
the stronger team being open minded and friendly. Company tris out to invest in skills of the
employers gaining credibility. British airways is looking out to be expensive as comparative to
another company.
Key challenges currently facing BA and staff
The world pandemic COVID 19 have created huge level of chillies to all airline
industries. About 20 airlines have been shut down operation and declared themes bankrupt. In
addition, large number of employees have already lost their jobs or facing their issues of
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government bailouts or prove to be insufficient. Many scars will be permanent and visible on
aviation industry’s
The airline industry has faced the global economic recession and traveller have fear of
catching the virus. The industry has clear expectation to have $16 billion of loss in year 2021.
Assuming that’s there won’t be second wave of COVID 19 infection in autumn and winter. as
per the article of from CNN Business is have been expected that’s international airline industry
will unlikely recover form pre COVID-19 level until the second half of 2022 but the domestic
travel will recover. Hence it can be impossible for the may airline to survive in such difficult
time.
As a results pandemic periods have come with large number of challenges for the British
airways-
Fewer airlines
Between the bankruptcy and consolidation, there have been fewer airlines which will be
flying by 2023. Only those airlines will survive who have simpler operation network and almost
built connection across the larger hubs and market.
Cheaper flights but fewer options
Initially carrier will cut down the fares to increase demand. But the industry will face
uneven uncertainty and high level of unemployment. Discount will only be there still sustained
demand rebound along with dependency on virus and vaccine development.
More airlines worker will loss their jobs
In UK almost 225000 more airline workers will be losing the jobs. This sector has 30%
anticipation in lay of employee in UK. The loss of job has inclusion of different layoff, paid nd
unpaid leaves or early retirement.
No full recovery for business travel
This anticipated shrinkage in business travels. In the year 2021, it have been expected to
be 25%below pre pandemic level as companies will be cutting off trip between offices and
facilities relying on instead video conferencing. BA is expecting corporates external travel to
return but slower rate than domestic leisure travel.
International travel will be sluggish
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Britisher cannot travel to different countries due to high number of cases in UK. Most of
traveller have denied going back to the countries post COVID-19. There have been change in
travel destination based on the safety and hygiene.
For British airways, COVID pandemic have been tuned out to be challenges. In order to
establish better understanding the impact of pandemic, SWOT analysis will be use to provided
visual presentation.
Strength Weakness
The company teds to have effective market
view to have good brand image.
British airways will be having positive
geographical presence around world.
There are high level of low cost airlines.
Noncurrent liabilities pre and post COVID-19
consequences.
Opportunity Threat
There is clear expectation in year 2021 to have
increase in domestic business travel.
Business restructuring.
Threat for the sever consequence of COVID in
next two years.
Intense level of competition forms low cost
airlines
Different regulatory from different destination
effecting the business situation .
Potential impact of strategies
British airways states lockdown has been biggest challenges for the airline. The company
is trying everything to save job of employees. BA is having major competition with low cost
airlines. the firm is setting up to have 40% rise in salary of cabin crew. Due to the COVID
challenge, BA have decided to change the entire vision of company with 12000 cut of job. The
staff member of company has been disappointed with company reaction on handling the impact
of coronavirus. This graph has inclusion of 6000 voluntary redundancy and 4000 compulsory
one.
The firm have developed the concept for cut off 12000 job .BA have deal with pilots and
team members with cost saving aspect having inclusion of different engineers and office staff to
make plan effective. On the other hand, firm is also facing major level of frustration from
employees regarding dismissing employee and rehiring them on new contracts. The company
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have offered the staff member with availed 10% discount on the different ticket prices on the
peak dates. On the other hand, for off peak dates, British airways is offering almost 1/3 price
discount to staff members.
As the reduction in job will reduce the expense of the company. As the results the fir
prices will be decrease turning out to beneficial for customer and shareholders. The company
will have smaller and effective planning to deal in the challenging situation of pandemic. On the
other hand, due to change in strategy of the company, the goodwill for British airways have been
dissolved. There is major frustration among the employee due to severe cut off. In addition,
competitive firm are also planning for the immediate restructuring of organization for giving out
the competitive channel to British airways in the market. The company is wishes to have return
to normal condition by promising to take back those lay off 12000 employees.
CONCLUSION
From the above file it can be concluded as airlines industry around the world have
expected their loss of record $84 billion in 2020. British airways are a flag airline of United
Kingdom providing full worldwide air cargo services along with scheduled passenger services.
BA have major priority to safety passengers. The industry will face uneven uncertainty and high
level of unemployment. BA is expecting corporates external travel to return but slower rate than
domestic leisure travel. Firm is facing major level of frustration from employees regarding
dismissing employee and rehiring them on new contracts. The company will have smaller and
effective planning to deal in the challenging situation of pandemic.
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Part 2
Reflective Report
Gibbs reflective cycle is the framework which clearly offers the examination of
experiences provided in cyclic in natures. This model helps in providing the encouragement
about experiences systematically encountered during specific situation, event and activity
(Cheng and Chan, 2019). The model is precise dealing with description, analysis and evaluation
of the experience helping the reflective practitioner to make sense of experiences and examine
their practice.
Description
This have situation to make chance with escribing in details. The main points have
inclusion in concerns what actually happened. This is part of assignments given out in daily
research projects. This reflective journal is based on key skills that I have developed during
learning the unit and also while analysing case of British Airways in relation with challenges that
company is facing as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. Skills that I developed were communication
skills, ICT (information and communication technology), problem solving skills and skills of
working with others or working in a team. Concerned with this, I learned different models and
theories regarding several concepts, such as team working model. These models are Belbin’s and
for the purpose of writing reflection I learned about Kolb’s reflective cycle. This is also known
as learning cycle, this model involves concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract
conceptualisation, and active experimentation.
Feelings
This stage has exploration of feelings or thoughts. This is overall procedure felt during
working on the projects. Completion of the report about case of study of British Airways helped
me in identifying importance of communication skills and most importantly written
communication skills (Ullmann, 2017). This is because I realised that there are certain elements
that I need to improve, this involve understanding formal writing, use of right words and
ensuring that report written is grammatically correct. Other than this, while studying and
working in group I realised that oral communication skills is also highly important. I also
realised that my oral communication skills are good. I have identified and understand this with
help of feedback of friends and seniors. I also have participated in certain activities that required
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effective oral communication skills. On the basis of this I realised that oral communication skill
is good but I need to work on written communication skills.
Evaluation
This is the stage have the clear evaluation regarding the achievement of the objectives
honestly been possibly achieved. Concerned with oral communication I also realised that
because classroom conversations in which I have participated during unit and also different
presentation that I have had given during classroom. I developed my oral communication skills
by identifying essential elements of oral communication skills, this involves active listening and
providing due attention to other speakers. This has helped me in communicating effectively
during classroom conversations. Information and communication technology is an important
employability. This is mainly concerned with using computers and Microsoft office programs
and I have developed these skills with help of courses that are aimed at developing this skill
(Khan and et.al., 2017). I also used this skill during unit but I realised that I am not effective in
using these programs and this is why
Analysis
This has steps needed to took in proper focus targeting differ aspects. This has inclusion
of literature review in different terminology. I realised during the chapters that there are several
theories with help of which different skills can be developed. Identifying this I studied about
Belbin’s team roles in order to identify role that I can play being in a team I realised that among
other skills and roles of teams I can play the role of co-ordinator. This is because I identified that
I can identify talent, confident and also believe that I can delegate effectively. Other than this, I
also believe that I can play role of implementer as well. This is because of some of the
experiences that I have had during unit. Implementer requires ability such as practical, reliable,
efficient, and I also believe that I can turn ideas into actions and also can allot work to other team
members. I believe that with help of this understanding I can further work on improving these
skills and become expert in these skills. Problem solving skills is another important
employability skill. This is concerned with identifying right solutions for the problem identified
on the basis of analysis of the data gathered. Effectiveness of this skill can be identified with help
of understanding of problem correctly and gathering right information. Concerned with this,
there are certain times when I experienced problems, during unit and during assignment as well.
During unit I was not able to understand certain concepts and found them difficult. Later, as I
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was having knowledge of the problem I gathered data through some online sources and later
analysed data in order to understand the concepts correctly (Laksamana, Pamelasari and Wusqo,
2020). I also experienced certain problems during assignment problem once was concerned with
gathering information, because I was not having knowledge of sources through which I can
correct accurate as well as reliable data in order to solve this problem I took help from peers and
also made research later on gathering data from different sources I completed assignment
successfully.
Conclusion
This will have summarizing to make different conclusion people self-identify their strengths and
possibly. On the basis of learning and development of different skills here I can conclude that
Problem solving was also a part of assignment in which I was expected to identify business
problems and later suggest potential solutions for and identify their impact on the business. This
required me to develop problem solving skills so that I can understand impact of potential
solution on the business problems. I learned this skills with help of Kolb’s learning cycle. This
cycle involves-
Concrete experience (feeling) - This means that I realised requirement for developing problem
solving skills. In order to develop this skill I gathered knowledge from academic sources about
skill of problem solving and then I realised studied them to understand how can I solve problems
and develop, this skills.
Reflective observation (watching) - I then read few case studies based on different problems and
they helped in learning what can be possible solutions for the problems.
Abstract conceptualisation (thinking) - In this stage I thought about the perception and theories
with help of which these problems were solved and what solution I would have developed
(Akben, 2020).
Active experimentation (doing) – on the basis of the knowledge I gained about problems skills
and its abstract conceptualisation. I identified the problems of British Airways and also identified
what impact will possible strategic solutions have on British Airways and its problems.
Action Plan
This will make the proper action which being related to differ situation and strategies to create in
manner to react more confident goals.
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Skills Objectives Method Time
Written communication
skills
Objective behind
developing this skill is
to enhance writing and
effectively
communicating through
written communication
method
This can be improved
through practice and
guidance from experts
Workshops aimed at
enhancing this skill can
also be utilised for
developing this skill
6-8 months
ICT skills To enhance overall
control and command
over IC technology
In order to enhance ICT
courses can be utilised
8-10 months
Team working skills To improve my
performance while
working in team
This can be learned by
experience and working
within teams
10-12 months
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adrienne, N., Budd, L. and Ison, S., 2020. Grounded aircraft: An airfield operations perspective
of the challenges of resuming flights post COVID. Journal of Air Transport Management,
89, p.101921.
Akben, N., 2020. Effects of the problem-posing approach on students’ problem solving skills and
metacognitive awareness in science education. Research in Science Education. 50(3).
pp.1143-1165.
Amankwah-Amoah, J., 2020. Stepping up and stepping out of COVID-19: New challenges for
environmental sustainability policies in the global airline industry. Journal of Cleaner
Production, 271, p.123000.
Barua, S., 2020. Understanding Coronanomics: The economic implications of the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. SSRN Electronic Journal https://doi org/10/ggq92n.
Boddy, D. (2017) Management an introduction, 7th edition, London, Pearson Education Limited
Cheng, M.W. and Chan, C.K., 2019. An experimental test: Using rubrics for reflective writing to
develop reflection. Studies in Educational Evaluation. 61. pp.176-182.
Khan, A and et.al., 2017. Communication Skills of a Teacher and Its Role in the Development of
the Students' Academic Success. Journal of Education and Practice. 8(1). pp.18-21.
Laksamana, S.I., Pamelasari, S.D. and Wusqo, I.U., 2020, June. Developing instructional media
of Labyrinth adventure to train problem solving and teamworking skills in inclusive school.
In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1567, No. 4, p. 042012). IOP Publishing.
Ullmann, T.D., 2017, March. Reflective writing analytics: empirically determined keywords of
written reflection. In Proceedings of the Seventh International Learning Analytics &
Knowledge Conference (pp. 163-167).
Online
Britishairways.com. 2020. British Airways | Book Flights, Holidays, City Breaks & Check.
[online] Available through : <https://www.britishairways.com/travel/home/public/>
BBC News. 2020. British Airways Faces Strike Threat Over Job Cut Plan. [online] Available
through : <https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53564385>
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