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This paper aims to show why public acclaim is not always a guarantee for healthy profits. A low-cost forerunner, Laker Airlines, also discovered this same fact to its fatal cost. A company needs to understand its true value proposition and ensure that customers are willing to pay for it. Ryanair was adored by the public when it began its low-cost flights from Dublin to London in 1986. That love nearly drove it to bankruptcy. Today, despite its poor image, it is one of the most successful and profitable companies in the industry.

The article analysis of the changing fortunes of Ryanair from its launch to its near bankruptcy in 1991 and then its revival of fortunes. It draws a parallel with Laker Airlines and the low-cost transatlantic Skytrain. Adulated by the public, the company folded in 1982. It is supplemented with research the airline industry and low-cost business models.

The article shows why companies should not fall into the trap of believing that a good public image will be the necessary condition for maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage. They need to fully understand the value proposition and what a customer is willing to buy.

An Australian designed and built helicopter is ready for flight tests at the Royal Newcastle Aero Club at Cessnock, New South Wales.

Given the ongoing globalization debate and lack of agreement about whether consumer cultures are predominantly globalizing, glocalizing, or localizing, the purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework designed to help clarify discussion and facilitate theoretical progress.

By integrating Rosch's categorization theory into the discussion of whether consumer cultures globalize, glocalize, or localize, several propositions can be formulated that help structure this discussion systematically.

It is demonstrated that arguments for global consumer culture (GCC) are most easily made at the superordinate level. However, their strength (versus glocal and local consumer culture) at the basic and subordinate levels is moderated by whether meanings associated with the consumption factor are primarily functional or symbolic.

Future research should empirically validate this initial effort. In addition, scholars should examine from a non‐western centric perspective whether GCC is emerging across the different category levels and meaning systems. Furthermore, emic research is needed to examine the emic meanings of the categories herein.

This proposed framework is also designed for marketing managers as a new tool to facilitate their global strategic planning.

This paper moves the GCC culture debate forward by integrating, for the first time, categorization theory into the discussion. This is of value for both academics and practitioners.

REDUNDANT managers and executives can up‐date their existing skills or train for a new occupation on courses run by the Manpower Services Commission under their Training Opportunities Scheme.

The role of railways within urban areas is analysed, covering ‘metro’ systems (self-contained heavy rail networks, often with substantial underground sections), light rail (both upgraded street tramways and newer systems), and travel by regional and national railways within urban areas. Basic operating characteristics, system capacity, capital costs, and technological change are examined. ‘Sustainability’ is analysed in respect of energy use and environmental impact, railways’ role in supporting high-density urban living (with associated benefits through greater use of non-motorised modes), and financial aspects (coverage of operating costs and ability to finance capital renewals). Current issues examined include the effect of users shifting to more flexible working patterns, the Covid pandemic, automation, and ownership. In general, urban railways can be seen to support a sustainable lifestyle, although some issues do arise in respect of longer distance commuting.