The thread title is misleading. Branson is not even mentioned in the linked article until the last sentence, and he's not even quoted in first person.
That being said, it has been my experience that the phrase used by Arpey, "
it remains to be seen if [there will be further reductions in capacity]" is corporatespeak for "
you can bet the rent money on"--as in "it remains to be seen if it will ever rain in Houston again."
I think we should all prepare for reductions in flying and parallel reductions in staff--all departments, except the executive suite.