Virgin Australia closes budget offshoot, fires 3,000 staff

Virgin Australia closes budget offshoot, fires 3,000 staff

Tigerair Australia and lay off 3,000 staff as it prepares to relaunch under new owners.

Which is it, fires or lay off? There's a difference in meanings. I'm sure it's the latter.

For too long the airline industry has treated customers badly.

Airports are designed with flogging duty free in mind rather than passenger convenience.

Airlines (non budget) shrink economy space and prioritise business space.

All airlines have annoying ticket pricing where the price of seats in the same cabin can vary enormously. And long haul airlines, where it can be cheaper to fly A to C via B than flying A to B.

And add to that ridiculous charges in anything that can possibly be charged for.

The industry needs a good shake up. Follow the Shinkansen model with transparent standard pricing, decent levels of comfort for all, and prioritisation on customer convenience and comfort rather than squeezing in as many duty free shops as possible.