Word: swissair
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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What a difference a few years makes. Despondency may have consumed the aviation sector in general over the past 24 months, forcing some flagship carriers, like British Airways, to rethink strategy and lay off staff, and forcing others, like Swissair, into bankruptcy. But the budget carriers have largely bucked the trend, and in some cases thrived...
...style on the ground. Unlike no-frills European airlines Ryanair and easyJet, or the U.S.'s Southwest, Bangkok Airways offers perks such as hot meals and wine, even on hour-long puddle jumps?not to mention elaborate landing rites like those at Sukhothai. And the service is impeccable. The Swissair-trained staff, both on the ground and in the air, are efficient, helpful and always ready to share a smile. The attendants even remember passengers' names. "This is what flying should be like," says American tourist Karen Richards, between sips of Sukhothai Airport's signature welcome drink of iced lemongrass...
British Airways has seen its profits fall to $7.3 million for the third quarter, compared with $290 million a year before. Belgium's Sabena is bankrupt and has suspended operations and Swissair, also bankrupt, has remained aloft only with government help...
...major airlines were in big trouble anyway," says Toby Nicol, a spokesman for cut-rate easyJet. "Now they're trying to wiggle out of playing by the rules." A competitor would say that, of course, but he has a point. Before Sept. 11, debt-burdened Swissair, which owned 49.5% of Sabena, was already suffering from a costly expansion strategy that had contributed to $1.7 billion in losses last year. Even far healthier BA had airline analysts worried before the attacks. It had embarked on a risky course to shift its business toward high-end flyers, cutting capacity while spending money...
...SWISSAIR FLIGHT 111 SEPT...