Air France-KLM CEO: 'We operate in a fiercely competitive global marketplace'

Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith, in an internal video addressed to staff, said "We operate in a fiercely competitive global marketplace" (Financial Times/Telegraaf, 17-Sep-2018). He added: "We need to act, we need to adapt, and we need to be prepared for both, but remember that I'm not here to do this on the backs of any of you". Mr Smith concluded: "A number of iconic airlines have disappeared because they have not changed, such as PanAm, Olympic and Sabena... With Alitalia the same thing is about to happen... They have perished because they failed to cope with the cutthroat competition... We can not let that happen".