Qantas 'surprise after the election'

[Dmac6345]

What about the first 787-8 going to QF Domestic instead of Jet*.
I would have thought this make sense in a lot of ways, not just at the end of an article on the 787-9. Originally Jet* were getting delivery in September, which is now mid October. (After the election). Boeing have stuffed up most of the 787's recently, so maybe they stuffed up the paint job and added a white Kangaroo....????!!!!!

 

[Standby]

Via Ben Sandilands on Plane Talking, who mentions Qantas having a surprise in their wings to be announced post-election.

Anybody have a clue what they might be planning to announce?

perhaps now QFs main "Australian " competitor is > 70% foreign owned there will be a change to the 50% foreign holding cap currently in place

 

[sloth]

you might be onto something there, especially now that EK + QF are in bed.

 

[SteveJohnson]

What about the first 787-8 going to QF Domestic instead of Jet*

I think this could be a possibility. I created a poll on what people thought the "The Qantas Surprise" will be, as a new thread, and this was one of the options, but the Mods deleted the poll for some reason without the courtesy of advising me why. Very odd way to behave! Other options were leasing 777s and the dreaded "enhancement' to QFF. I think we are all hoping it will NOT be that last option!

 

[flying_double]

I would have thought with Albanese stating support for a second SYD airport, Qantas could be in cahoots, and announce some help with funding/moving to this new airport that's not even a plan on paper yet.

Ha, Qantas doesn't want to partly pre-fund a planned runway in BNE, so I feel it is very unlikely it will commit to funding an unplanned second airport for Sydney.

Although it has tried to give every competitor a leg up over the past few years with the self-imposed decline of its international business, so from that perspective, a move to an airport 80km from Sydney's CBD makes total sense for Qantas!

 

[docjames]

Qantas end all int flights that aren't ex-SYD or Mel?

 

[Must...Fly!]

perhaps now QFs main "Australian " competitor is > 70% foreign owned there will be a change to the 50% foreign holding cap currently in place

Seems like the most politically appropriate possibility to be mentioned thus far

 

[Happy Trails]

Qantas end all int flights that aren't ex-SYD or Mel?

But that wouldn't be a surprise.

 

[Nizar]

The reinstatement of online bookable ASAs ?
That would be actually be a genuine surprise !:mrgreen:

 

[docjames]

787s to QFi.

744s to be deployed SYD-MEL.

 

[Platinum A332]

Return to Wollongong, but this time with a 380 via Wagga Wagga.

 

[will2rob]

If common sense prevails, a one-way ticket to anywhere for failed politician Tony Abbott.

I think you meant Kevin Rudd. Manus Island is nice this time of year.

 

[Skyring]

I think you meant Kevin Rudd. Manus Island is nice this time of year.

Just quietly, but some Qantas shares could be big earners after the election.

Remember that Rudd747 won't be flying RAAF VIP any more, but he will be on the loose with a gold travel pass.

 

[BadgerBoi]

I think you meant Kevin Rudd. Manus Island is nice this time of year.

Thanks but I know who I mean

 

[JohnPhelan]

Given that the comment was at the end of an article about the 787-9, I would expect it will be the announcement of the conversion of the QF 787 options into firm orders, for delivery to QF mainline from 2016.

 

[Limewood]

ASA's will be brought back online and where seats are not available on the QFF site nothing will show, so no more annoying popups: your seat will be in...

 

[777]

If there really is an announcement being saved for after the election (and who the hell knows) it is most likely a negative one that they think will go down better in a changed political environment. My guess would be that it involves cutbacks to the work force or moving maintenance or even some flying off-shore or selling out to a major OS equity partner. They are all things you wouldn't want to announce before an election as they will become a political football. After the election you might get away with it and you would generally think that a conservative government would be less likely to block it or even support an amendment to the Qantas Sale Act to accelerate it.

 

[eastwest101]

If there really is an announcement being saved for after the election (and who the hell knows) it is most likely a negative one that they think will go down better in a changed political environment. My guess would be that it involves cutbacks to the work force or moving maintenance or even some flying off-shore or selling out to a major OS equity partner. They are all things you wouldn't want to announce before an election as they will become a political football. After the election you might get away with it and you would generally think that a conservative government would be less likely to block it or even support an amendment to the Qantas Sale Act to accelerate it.

Some plausible theories there, my money is on staff cutbacks and/or the outsourcing of all A330 and bigger maintenence off shore. But if possible it could only ever be an "option" for QF - not a plan set in stone as the election result is not a sure thing. The interesting possibility is that if Kevin Rudd pulls off an electoral win what are QF going to do then? Also raises the intruiging possibility that QF may have spoken to both Rudd and Abbott about a review to the Qantas Sale Act. This is a bit beleivable as both leaders will be most keen for this not to become an electoral issue.

Other possibilities like a total rebranding and separation with QFi staying as the international arm and possibly QFd becoming Jetstar Australia accross the board? Is there anything in the current Qantas Sale act that would prevent a rebrand like this? The second airport at SYD is tough for Qantas as they are committed to SYD as a hub and are hostage to federal/state politics and Macquarie Bank and don't have the money to announce any grand plans about what to do with Mascot or any other future SYD airports.

 

[Kendall Roy]

possibly QFd becoming Jetstar Australia accross the board?.

Why? QFd is profitable and this would be a death wish!

 

[sjd]

Other possibilities like a total rebranding and separation with QFi staying as the international arm and possibly QFd becoming Jetstar Australia accross the board?

Why would they deliberately destroy brand goodwill in the most profitable flying part of their business? The stampede of QFF members to VA if that happened would then kill off the other profitable part of their business (QFF).