There were obviously a number of issues raised today that needed responding to:
CLAIM: Qantas’ on time performance has deteriorated since it announced job losses in February.
FACT: This is not true. In fact, our on time performance has improved since our half year results announcement. At 4pm on 14 March, 97 per cent of Qantas flights were running on time for the day.
Qantas recorded the best on time performance of any domestic airline in Australia in 2013, for the fifth consecutive year in a row.
CLAIM: The Licensed Engineers Union has listed a number of maintenance issues on Qantas aircraft that it claims happened at facilities overseas.
FACT: The union is again playing the safety card by compiling a list of maintenance issues dating back 16 years in an attempt to claim that maintenance done outside of Australia is unsafe.
These claims have been investigated by CASA and these facilities continue to be approved by CASA and used by the world's leading airlines.
If the union really believes that maintenance done outside of Australia is unsafe then they are questioning the safety of every other airline which flies into Australia as they do all of their heavy maintenance overseas.
Qantas is the only airline which does the majority of its heavy maintenance at its own facilities in Australia. Some of our aircraft – including A380s and now B747s – have their heavy maintenance done overseas. But regardless of where maintenance is done on our aircraft, it is done to Qantas’ high quality and safety standards and at facilities approved by Australia’s safety regulator, CASA.
CLAIM: Qantas pays Australian workers $200 below the minimum wage
FACT: This is false. Qantas workers are not paid below the minimum wage.
CLAIM: Jetstar pays workers in Thailand $257 a month and these workers operate on domestic services.
FACT: Jetstar pays it employees based on the terms and conditions in the country in which they are employed. The claim about the wages paid to Thai based cabin crew is incorrect. These employees get paid around four times the amounts claimed. Thai based cabin crew earn a base salary, plus numerous additional payments including flying duty hour payments, performance bonus, allowances and annual leave.
Jetstar’s foreign crew are predominantly rostered for international services between two international destinations. There are a small number of flights which are international coded flights operating within Australia that fly onto an international destination for example, Melbourne – Cairns – Osaka. This is commonly known in the industry as tag flying.
CLAIM: Qantas has given its executives an 82 per cent pay increase since 2010.
FACT: This is incorrect. Qantas’ executive pay has decreased since 2010. Alan Joyce will take home 36 per cent less this year compared to last year and there is currently a bonus and pay freeze in place for executives and all employees. The Qantas Board has also taken a reduction in fees.
CLAIM: Qantas shouldn’t be spending money on sponsorship and marketing while it is cutting jobs.
FACT: Our general principle with any marketing activity is that has to generate a commercial return. It’s an investment and it has to stack up for us to spend money on it.
For instance, our involvement in the Ellen DeGeneres Show visit saw a 22 per cent increase in bookings from the United States to NSW alone. Similarly, the value of brand exposure generated from our Modern Family partnership has already generated many times what it cost, before the Australia episode even airs.
There are things we will need to cut back on as a business, but we won’t stop investing in our brand.
CLAIM: Qantas has been shifting costs within the airline to make Jetstar look better and make Qantas International look worse financially.
FACT: This is a baseless claim that has never been substantiated. Qantas’ financial accounts are independently audited by KPMG and lodged with the Australian Securities Exchange. We have a legal, regulatory and moral responsibility to report accurate accounts. The claim that we would deliberately distort financial results is wrong.
http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/qantas-responds/qantas-responds-to-incorrect-claims