Former Aer Lingus chief executive Willie Walsh starts his first working day as the chief executive at British Airways today.
He will be anxious to enjoy a far less turbulent time in charge than his predecessor Sir Rod Eddington. During Sir Rod's five-year reign, BA had to contend with the September 11 attacks in the US, Concorde being grounded and then axed, SARS, the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the Gulf War, wildcat strikes and rising oil prices.
However, oil and industrial problems remain for Mr Walsh, who last week learned that his chief financial officer John Rishton was leaving.
After restoring Aer Lingus's fortunes having originally joined the airline as a pilot, Mr Walsh will need to tackle employee relations at a timewhen BA is still looking to slim down staff numbers.
The damaging BA wildcat strike this summer in support of the sacked workers of the airline's catering company, Gate Gourmet, showed the simmering discontent of some workers, as did wildcat action that caused flight disruption in summer 2003.
Mr Walsh earned a reputation at Aer Lingus of being a cost cutter and it could be that a similar approach in his new job will lead to a run in with the unions at BA.
He will be overseeing BA's move into the long-awaited new Terminal 5 at Heathrow which will be operational in 2008 and which will necessitate major changes in BA's working practices.
