英伦广角 2009-08-02 英国航空亏钱了

Not long ago, BA was flying high and making millions, but the turbulent global economy has seen its profits plunge¹. And even the last three months gearing up to the lucrative² holiday season have failed to lift the downward trend.
"Unless this airline can very very quickly change and adapt to a market which may never be the same again, never be as strong as it was in 2006 and 2005. Then I'm afraid British Airways³' problems will continue."

British Airways is facing a number of difficulties. Demand for air travel is dropping during the recession. And the airline has been hit hard by a fall in premium⁴ passengers with first class and business bookings down 15%. BA's vast workforce⁵ of 40,000 has also added to the overheads. Wages alone cost a whopping 2.2 billion pounds. And rising fuel costs remain a problem as the price of oil hits a record high last year. In response, BA is taking action, scrapping⁶ meals on short-haul flights, cutting thousands of jobs and more controversially, asking staff to work for free this month. BA boss Willie Walsh did but relatively⁷ few followed his example. He also wants to renegotiate every employee's contract, something that could well cause strikes.  These are dark days for aviation, BA desperately⁸ needs to settle its staff dispute and streamline⁹ its operations if it's to limit the damage in the months ahead.

1 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

2 lucrative   

adj.赚钱的，可获利的

参考例句：

• He decided to turn his hobby into a lucrative sideline.他决定把自己的爱好变成赚钱的副业。
• It was not a lucrative profession.那是一个没有多少油水的职业。

3 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

4 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

5 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

6 scrapping   

刮，切除坯体余泥

参考例句：

• He was always scrapping at school. 他在学校总打架。
• These two dogs are always scrapping. 这两条狗总是打架。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 desperately   

adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地

参考例句：

• He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。
• He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

9 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。