Product Description

Barbara Cassani set up the no-frills airline GO for British Airways. She was a rare breed. A female airline chief executive who believed in doing things differently. Her European low- cost operation was launched in May 1998 with GBP25 million backing and within three years she took it into profit. Riding high, she led a management buy-out from BA, supported by the venture capitalist outfit 3i. They paid GBP110 million for the airline. Yet, less than a year later the venture capital group - battered by a falling stock market - had a chance to cash in their chips. GO was sold to arch- rival easyJet for an astonishing GBP374 million. At at time when the airline industry is of great interest to the public as well as being in flux, this fast-paced read gives a fascinating insight into how to create a successful company with limited resources in such a short space of time. GO: AN AIRLINE ADVENTURE is filled with real characters overcoming the odds to achieve great things and shows the remarkable vision and talent of the author, Barbara Cassani.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #194666 in Books
• Published on: 2005-12-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
*'Her story is impressive and her dedication to her work outstanding' OBSERVER *'A slick, comprehensive, and comprehensible story' GLASGOW HERALD *'Likely to [be] one of the business reads of the year' Dominic O'Connell, SUNDAY TMES *'This book is a must-read for business managers' Bill Jamieson, SCOTSMAN *'The American Business Woman who started the budget airline Go with a mobile phone and a lot of chutzpah' Marianne Macdonald, EVENING STANDARD

About the Author
Barbara Cassani founded GO and directed it through its lifetime to enormous success. She was Businesswoman of the Year in 2002 and is head of the 2012 London Olympic bid. Kenny Kemp is the business editor of the Sunday Herald and is Scotland's Business Wr

Customer Reviews

Not such an adventurous read...
What a disappointment. I was looking forward to an exciting read about how a new airline was created and managed. Instead this is in my opinion a self-congratulatory, superficial book that seems only to provide a forum for Barbara Cassani to tell us how wonderful she and the people who worked for her are. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, but not really what I was expecting when I bought it.

"GETTING IT OFF THE GROUND"
I thought this was an excellent compelling book highlighting the managarial skills of Barbara Cassini and others in their quest to get an airline off the ground (excuse the pun). As I am presently studing for my MBA, I found this book both informative and indeed identified with many aspects of my course in this book. I would recommend it thoroughly to anyone undertaking a management/business qualification, but, quite aside from this aspect, it is an interesting read and would make you want to try your own business idea and live your dream (if that was your desire) good luck!!

A salutary tale of loyalty and betrayal in business
This is a compellingly readable account of how Barbara Cassani and her small team launched the low-cost airline "Go". Barbara tells how the immense dedication of the companies employees pulled them through on many occasions. The book also details how the airline was betrayed by British Airlines, who provided the launch funding, and 3i who funded the Management Buy Out. Both British Airways and 3i lost potential profit and the public lost a popular and reliable low-cost airline.
The account is related from the very personal viewpoint of Ms Cassani, but none the less readable for that.
Anyone who regularly flys on low-cost airline should read this book.