Lord King

[Earl Gloomy 7]

John Leonard King, Baron King of Wartnaby (August 29, 1917-July 12, 2005) was a businessman famous for leading British Airways from inefficient, nationalised company to one of the most successful airlines of recent times. This success was a flagship of Margaret Thatcher's privatisation programme.

 

King began his successful business career with a ball and roller bearing company which grew to become a major operation spanning several continents and which was sold for £10m in 1968. He became Chairman of Babcock International in 1972.

 

Dubbed "Mrs. Thatcher's favourite businessman" he was chosen to prepare the inefficent, loss making nationalised flag carrier for privatisation. King joined British Airways in 1981. Major changes at the airline included removing 22,000 staff members, hiring Colin Marshall as CEO in 1983, removing older aircraft from the fleet, purchasing more modern and efficient airliners, and axing unprofitable routes. Within two years King had replaced over half of the BA board with his own appointees. BA was privatised in 1987 and the initial share offering was 11 times oversubscribed. King was made a life peer in 1983.

 

King recognised the importance of Concorde to British Airways. In its early years of service with BA, Concorde lost the carrier money and attracted criticism from the press as a white elephant. One thing that everybody agreed was the charismatic value of the aircraft. BA used Concorde to win business customers, guaranteeing a certain number of Concorde upgrades in return for corporate accounts with the airline - a key factor in winning business from transatlantic competitors.

 

 

 

I have certianly have heared of him before, not quite sure how i managed to miss this one!

[Captain Oates 21]

Perhaps you were not looking

[Earl Gloomy 7]

Damn, i am always doing that, i never think of looking there first.

[Youth in Asia 1,088]

I have just for the first time ever managed to access Deathlist in a BA lounge. Normally it is banned because it is classified as "gruesome content". Perhaps revenge for this thread on Lord King. Although as threads go it is hardly one of the longest. However in Geneva they have a wifi network which bypasses BA's policies. Perhaps I'll set up a thread on Willie Walsh to celebrate.

[Tuber Mirum 126]

You can't get deathlist net in German railway stations either.

 

Inappropriate content or some such guff.

[Godot 149]

I have just for the first time ever managed to access Deathlist in a BA lounge. Normally it is banned because it is classified as "gruesome content". Perhaps revenge for this thread on Lord King. Although as threads go it is hardly one of the longest. However in Geneva they have a wifi network which bypasses BA's policies. Perhaps I'll set up a thread on Willie Walsh to celebrate.

This is ridiculous. There's more gruesome content in the Beano. I refuse to access airport internet links because they all want your money: tight fisted bastards.