Who's sorry for the Airlines?

I read Michael Howarth's interesting piece in which he says he is not sorry for the airlines.

Personally I think picking the right cabin staff is one of the most important things. A couple of years ago I went on a national carrier that ran the most awful rattly old planes to the Middle East, I was wondering if we'd fall in the sea to be honest, but the whole trip was made a pleasure by the charming cabin crew who played with the children on board and treated passengers with hospitality. ("Hospitality" - now isn't that an interesting word....)