- Poorly managed seat inventory.
- Inaccurate seat inventory.
- Seats being booked by wholesalers and unconfirmed seats released too late for the sale in the market.
- An outdated system which connected our reservation system to other reservation systems and other airlines.
I worked assiduously with the staff and with the support of the marketing VP to fix some of the problems. As I said in a previous article, in trying to correct things, we stepped on some corn, and these powerful people in North America did not support the changes. One executive was close to a hotel mogul, and sometimes I wondered whose interest he represented. The man moved smoothly about like a snake slithering in the grass. He was dangerous.
After they moved the marketing VP, I was moved to the Information Technology department. I had no previous experience working in an IT department.
The VP for Finance called me and outlined a task that he wanted me to do. That was a major task, and I wondered, 'Why me?'
I was told that he understood what I was doing in reservations control, and he wanted me to learn programming and use my knowledge to ascertain why the airline was not making any money.
I had to design the system for the programme. I eventually had to create flow charts, learn how to do date calculations, and more. Those who have had the opportunity to go to an institution and study computer science must give thanks. It did not take me long to earn the respect of all the programmer/analysts who had formal training in the field.
I had to use the programme to analyse the sale of fare types, and to see how the revenue was handled.
I saw passenger segments being booked and cancelled, and Air Jamaica had to pay for all those transactions. Sometimes those passengers did not travel. One passenger could end up costing the airline between USD200 and USD300 for booking and cancellation fees.
If a passenger travelled, from on a fare, you had to subtract the booking fees, and Air Jamaica had to pay over part of the fare to the hotel. When you look at the fraud involved in missing passenger luggage, you then understand that there was nothing for Air Jamaica to get from that fare. There was also the challenge of unprocessed revenue (UPR), which were sales that were not reported by the travel agents and our own stations. I understand that the UPR account ran into millions of dollars. It seems like no one cared.
These are some of the issues that could have been dealt with, but from where I sit, I could only speculate why action was not taken. I know that the VP of Finance was very frustrated when I gave him my reports. I just recall that our overdraft at the bank averaged JAD40 million for one account. Air Jamaica had to pay approximately JAD1 million for interest, if my memory serves me correctly.
The VP for Finance knew that there were some evil people around who did not want to see the airline move forward. He got concerned for his life. He had a log placed across his door to prevent entry when he worked at night. He was also armed with a gun.
The finance VP became paranoid when I told him that another VP wanted to see the spreadsheet forecasting model that I was working on. He was relieved when I told him that it was not shared.
I knew something was wrong, and I was not surprised when VP Lloyd James was assassinated as he entered his house one evening. I got word that my name was on the list to go, but I was told that I was a good man, and they would protect me. I survived.
@Airjamaica
_________________
______________________
____________________
_______________________
Keep abreast of the news and information in the world. Bark Di Trute, a Jamaican blog, is packed with accurate information. Click the following link and get information at your fingertips. WhatsApp link is: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C9bkP96JIN2JgHiuktY3Jj
_________________
_________________
Subscribe Now!
Without your support, Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.
You can view the blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar to see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles. There is also a weather link, which you can use to track hurricanes.
_____________________
