It's almost painful to watch. JAL's net worth just hit negative one trillion yen. That's ￥-1,000,000,000,000. It's gotten so bad that pilot trainees are being asked to work as ground staff or settle for retirement benefits (how's that for quick retirement - pilot school, then oops, time to call it quits).
I used to know a girl who went to work for JAL. When I read these articles, I something think about her and wonder if she still has a job. Tough times.
I'm usually pretty indifferent about companies struggling or going belly up, but I've had some good experiences with JAL (and ANA, too). Don't know how good their chances are of turning things around, but I wish them well.
Read more about this story over at the Japan Times.
Not directly related, but if anyone wants to see life on the other side, the movie Happy Flight is a pretty funny Japanese movie about ANA/airport employees (pilots, mechanics, air-traffic controllers, ticket counter, etc.). It was directed by Shinobu Yaguchi, so if you like his other movies, Swing Girls or Water Boys, you'll probably like this one. It makes you sympathize a bit more with those brave and patient men in women when you see what they have to deal with.
ReplyDeleteYeah, wanna see that one.
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