ANA pilot posts insulting remarks on JAL Facebook page

It was unthinkable for him to use his personal profile to write that comment, and it reflects poorly on our company. We humbly apologize for his comments

WHY? Its his personal profile! Is he not entitled to his opinion?

a bankrupt company being kept alive by taxpayers’ money

Not far from the truth. I know, because I was an investor who lost a lot of money on JAL stock!

Telling the truth will get you nowhere in Japan best to shut up, bow and hope for the best.

Women love an honest man.

Truth hurts, doesn't it?

That said, having a private page, does not absolve one of responsibility for what PR damage comes to one's company as a result of said statement.

But since Pilots are not a dime a dozen (In fact a global shortage means this guy would make more money somewhere else tomorrow), so I am betting that an "I'm sorry" paper will get it fixed.

Mirai Hayashi

I guess on his personal profile, he identifies himself as a pilot for ANA, so that might have understandably upset his bosses.

Wrong or not - that's not professional!

his personal profile

Granted not very tasteful but it was his personal profile

I assume there is something in his employment contract that gives ANA the grounds to object to his conduct. Otherwise, there should be nothing preventing him from expressing his honest opinion or identifying the company he works for.

He posted on the JAL FaceBook page (using his FB account obviously), which makes it look like he is trash talking his competitor. But by all means he is right... JAL is enjoying a bailout, so they should stop complaining.

If he would have said it on his time line, or if someone that wasn't in the flight industry did the same thing, it wouldn't make the news.

No he shouldn't be punished... how couls they punish him BTW?

Makes me want to go talk crap about JAL on their page now.

As we all know "Only the truth hurts"...

It seems like a bit of a cheap shot for an ANA pilot to take at a rival company. Its not like his flying skills have anything to do with ANA's financial success and JAL's bankruptcy.

As a condition of deregulation, JAL was forced by the government to fly uneconomical routes to small airports and went bankrupt in part due to the pension liabilities from such a large network. ANA had no such requirements imposed on it since it was much smaller at the time. The reason that JAL was bailed out by the government was that the government caused the bankruptcy. This is probably why ANA management is so sensitive about criticising JAL.

He spoke the truth.

He called JAL a bankrupt company being kept alive by taxpayers’ money

The truth cannot be insulting. If it is a matter of opinion, like "You're ugly", then it can be, but something that can be checked on financial reports is a matter of public record.

Of course people today seem to have a problem with the entire idea of "truth", and think everything is an opinion. Some things are opinion, but a lot of things are unequivocally true or untrue. Good manners are not a valid reason for censorship, because many truths are unpleasant and "impolite".

The comments were made privately. ANA do not give two hoots. Their apology is intentionally drawing attention to the truths the man stated in his comments which most people agree with. They know full well, the backlash in support of the man and the surrounding publicity generated will further damage JAL and benefit ANA. This is common practice in PR, however insincere, and in the land of dumbing down and insincere, even more so.

Most people cannot handle the truth full stop, they want honesty but when told the truth if it is not their idea of ideal they don't want to know about it.

Way too much censorship in this world these days in many aspects.

This is Japan. Freedom of speech is still at teenage stage compare to many other countries. This is something hurting my intelligence often, as I live in Japan.

He did this on Facebook, so there's a 99.9% chance he has his place of employment listed there. People get extremely stupid about the personal information they post online - whether it's Facebook or some other social media. Even if what you're typing is your own personal view, that additional information rapidly changes "a person's post" into "an ANA employee's post" - ESPECIALLY when you're posting on a competitor's page.

I want freedom of speech, but as with all freedoms there are responsibilities that go with them (like saying BOMB on an airplane or FIRE in a theater). If you speak a brutal truth though, you better be ready to accept some trolling. "People deserve to know the truth, even if it destroys their illusions of reality".

As a professional SCPL , this is unprofessional to bag another airline or your fellow Aviators , whilst here in Nihon , we don't have the same ' elbow room ' of free expression , it is as bad as one Doctor bagging another Medical Service Provider . Whilst it is his personal page , it is not polite wherever you live in the world , to attempt to discredit a rival airline . JAL has had it's ups and downs , but it is still a professional and caring team , think of that when we get you to your destination safely . Perhaps it is because JAL had one of the most prestigious awards in 2013 and ANA did not , or could he just wish his last application for a transfer was declined ? I know Peach are short of Aviators , perhaps he should apply there !

Nothing like social media to bring out the worst in people. And I'm sure Mark Zuckermann is laughing all the way to the bank.

He called JAL a bankrupt company being kept alive by taxpayers’ money, Sports Nippon reported Wednesday.

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It will be nice if this pilot reveal the bankrupt record of JAL and how much taxpayers money has been spent to make JAL alive. Bankrupt records, he can get easily. Assets, debts. creditors, which court handled JAL bankrupt declaration ., Which stockholders meetings accepted bankrupt?

lol, amateurish, but funny.

He's definitely entitled to his own opinion. However, when you're an employee of a firm, you're expected to act in a way that doesn't embarrass your firm,even when outside of the office, regardless of how you feel about the firm. It sucks, but that's one of the prices to be paid for being employed.

If you can't represent the company in a civilized manner, you don't have to be employed - no one is forcing you to be. Badmouthing people doesn't get anyone anywhere.

@GalapagosnoGairaishu

It's Mark Zuckerberg, not Zuckermann.

@toshiko,

It will be nice if this pilot reveal the bankrupt record of JAL and how much taxpayers money has been spent to make JAL alive. Bankrupt records, he can get easily. Assets, debts. creditors, which court handled JAL bankrupt declaration ., Which stockholders meetings accepted bankrupt?

From January 19, 2010 news reports:

Japan Airlines filed for court-led rehabilitation today, the Japanese version of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Japan's Enterprise Turnaround Initiative Corporation will lead the carrier's restructuring, as it continues to pert aided by 300 billion yen in capital, or about $3.3 billion.

From Wikipedia:

After weeks of speculation, JAL applied for court protection under the Corporate Rehabilitation Law (the Japanese equivalent of Administration (UK) or a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy (US) filing) on January 19, 2010. JAL expects to receive a ¥300 billion cash injection and have debts worth ¥730 billion waived, in exchange for which it will cut its capital to zero, cut unprofitable routes and reduce its workforce by 15,700 employees—a third of its 47,000 total.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_Airlines#Restructuring

It is much better he lashed it out on his personal page than going on a killing spree, this was good therapy for him. Bashing your employer via facebook or other social sites is a stress reliever. Good job Sir!

Its not like his flying skills have anything to do with ANA's financial success and JAL's bankruptcy

Well if his flying skills caused a plane to crash it in fact may negatively harm ANA's financial success.

One, he is entitled to his opinion. When he makes that opinion public he is still in his right, and also to face the consequences of making said opinion public. Social media is not as anonymous as one may think. Especially when one uses their real names.

Two, his skills as a pilot are not in question here. ANA and JAL seem to have a problem with an employee posting their opinions on their page. Again, he is in his right, but on a page set up by a competitor it is their page not his personal page to post said opinions and again facing the consequences is part of using said rights.

Three, visiting the social network page of a person or company is like being in their home or business. You do not leave manners and politeness behind. If he were to walk into JAL offices and make statements like that he is also voicing opinion but again also must bear the consequences.

Adults realize that exercising rights has consequences. Children think exercising rights excuses rude, hateful, and distasteful behavior. Part of the society contract is the fact your rights cannot negate my rights. The ANA pilot exercised his rights and is now learning to keep his childishness on his own social media page.

This is unacceptable behaviour from an ANA pilot. He should be fined and that's that though. But this is just inviting bad karma to come back on ANA! Nobody likes a sore winner. He may be correct but there are other ways to get this information across.

How does an ANA pilot stating facts about JAL do any damage to ANA? JAL was in bankruptcy protection and did receive money from the government. Those are facts, known to most people. No laws were broken, the pilot was not on duty and therefore it's no business of ANA's.

Scrote: Those are facts, known to most people. No laws were broken, the pilot was not on duty and therefore it's no business of ANA's.

Not when he makes his opinion public on the Facebook page of JAL. It is ANA's business then. Regardless if he was stating fact or not, he assumed by going public with his comment any responsibility for exercising his right.

When you go on social networking pages that are not yours then you can be held responsible for those comments you make. Evry employer in the world warns their employees about use of social network and the consequences that can follow making comments that can bring blowback or criticism to your employer. Sorry, but YOU can be disciplined by your employer LEGALLY for your social networking "opinions" whether they are factual or not.

kyushubull: If a Facebook page allows members of the public to make comments the owner of that page should expect some negative comments. If they don't like it, don't allow comments. A person could be held responsible for making slanderous comments, but in this case the ANA pilot only wrote well-known facts.

I don't accept that my employer can hold me responsible for comments I make outside of working hours that have no connection to them. It's none of their business. In this case it's none of ANA's business what their pilot wrote on JAL's page. The law is we have the right to freedom of expression; our employers have no right to gag us or to impinge on that right when the conversation doesn't refer to them.

Suppose I set up some fake Facebook accounts tonight saying I'm an ANA pilot and write the same comments on JAL's page. What are they going to do then?

Then go cry to the courts and an attorney when your employer tells you that YOU WILL be accountable for actions that reflect negatively on their reputation by your social media activity. Already almost every employer checks applicants social media activity and my HR department turns down over half of applicants for their online stupidity. Courts have already in every advanced nation upheld terminations for online and social media activity. So what do you want me say? I am just stating the truth that yes ANA can hold him accountable. There is something called being a responsible adult. even when one is online. Otherwise go cry to a lawyer about "unfairness".

People already knew that JAL was under the government help. People still take flights on either JAL and ANA.

It's about attitude. Just think about latitude next time, man.