How would you run Qantas?

[whatmeworry]

If I ran Qantas, I would get a few generous fuel offers from from WW, then fill up my jerry cans in multiple transactions with my DJ Amex card... Make sure I got them generous fuel offers before 31/12/13/

Then I would douse the entire Qantas fleet with fuel bought with previous bought fuel and torch the whole fleet...

 

[Awesom Andy]

The culture in German unions is not necessarily the same as in Australia.

Or have a union like they do in SIN. Earlier this year, bus drivers went on strike over pay issues, and the union told the drivers that it was illegal and they needed to go back to work.

 

[maninblack]

If you live outside of Sydney (or perhaps NSW or the UAE) then there is essentially no reason why you would choose QFi and only limited reason so fly QFd. So it is a large airline that has a terrible bias to the needs of one region of the country. (less than a third of the population) This is not sustainable.

On a different subject I always wonder why so many of the staff of QF and especially QF Customer Care are so coughy and arrogant when most of them are headed for the unemployment office over the next few years

I really wonder what the aim of QF senior management actually is. They seem to be badly out of touch with reality. Another alternative is that the guy who is actually at the head of the boardroom table is,

 

[BAM1748]

Make it an all Boeing Airline. (ducks)

Matt

 

[Hvr]

Make it an all Boeing Airline. (ducks)

Matt

Geez flying is just glorified public transport, so shouldn't they be called air buses? :mrgreen:

 

[sphericaltravel]

Most replies seem to look at business models only. The situation is that Australia is an island, isolated and utterly dependent upon air travel. The airline needs to be part owned and I would encourage the Federal Government to take over a large chunk. The danger is that it will lead to potential public service type inefficiencies, but I would prefer those to cost cutting or selling over to a foreign owned enterprise, which would then have control over everyone's movements, along with attendant risks of lower standards of scrutiny.
It was a grave mistake when the airports were sold off. Sydney is a quagmire now of overpriced parking and a continuous aural blot on the lives of many Sydney residents in central Sydney because successive governments are paralysed from committing to an appropriate airport solution.
The Chinese would never have let this happen to them. Australia has been spooked for too long on the economic rationalist pathway.

 

[mannej]

If you live outside of Sydney (or perhaps NSW or the UAE) then there is essentially no reason why you would choose QFi and only limited reason so fly QFd. So it is a large airline that has a terrible bias to the needs of one region of the country. (less than a third of the population) This is not sustainable.

I would change that to any state capital east of Adelaide, not just Sydney...

 

[VeloNomad.com]

Why does JQ get the new Birds? JQ pax given the price they pay could be on DC3 for all they care. Giving QF the 787 would be a great story and give people a reason to pay a premium.

My main focus would be divesting of JQ.

I object to that. I use BNK frequently as we're 10mins away and fly to mostly MEL, and I am happy with current price/planes.
All I'd do is drive to OOL (90mins) for a DJ flight. (DJ currently only serves MEL via SYD which is a PITA for us)

Notwithstanding the 787s should have gone to QF.

 

[Corkey]

I agree suparockin, lets bring back the days when flying was part of an enjoyable holiday. I for one would be more than happy to pay extra for better service ect.

 

[Sumnerned]

As a New Zealand resident, I have flown from Christchurch to Europe about 20 times over the last decade or so, mostly on Q. Overall the best Q service has been on the trans-Tasman legs. The staff on QF1/2 out of Bangkok were good too, but those days are long gone.
So maybe I would sell Q to AirNZ.

 

[Grandma's Wings "]

I'm so disappointed with the way things have turned out for Qantas & am not the least bit surprised.. I'm no Business F/F and I could tell them to do some " In House Cleaning" first and foremost, big deal Alan Joyce taking a pay cut when you are already earning $ 3 Mill annually.......Being an elderly lady Pensioner & a loyal Qantas F/F who has to save hard to earn points ( 4 years to be exact for myself alone ) ...I recently looked at booking a return flight to Honolulu for my daughter and myself ( not on Jetstar ).....I was shocked at the Qantas Fares.... I then shopped around and the looked at Hawaiian Airlines only to find the same type of service in Economy class with extra Baggage Allowance and half the costs of Qantas... why wouldn't I choose another airline....... Wake Up Qantas....you are heading the same way that other Australian Icon Businesses are going....just saying that's all...

 

[Grandma's Wings "]

He is a simple tip.

Get rid of the word "FROM"..... I'm sick of seeing a price that when you get to the payment section is nothing like the starting price.

I'm with you on this one too...and why use " One Way" when most Travellers want return....be upfront with all costs instead of trying to work it all out....

 

[jmillard]

I have absolutely NFI how to run an airline, but I'd like to add the things that frustrate me about QF -

As an ex Perth flyer, mostly going to China, with a fair bit of domestic thrown in, my best option overall is to be loyal to QF. As an example I was given status match on Virgin a couple of years ago, but have yet to fly them.

So to personalise my problems, when the Emirates deal was done, part of the reason was to improve QF service to Asia. HaHa! Now, to get to Shanghai, I need to fly via SIN, take a code share on China Eastern (with no movies, already!) - and spend an extra 2 hours for the privilege. Or fly the old route CX to HKG to PVG. Better option, better timing, same SC's, a LOT less points.

I recently went to Milan on Emirates on QF codeshare and the service and Lounges were outstanding.

I have been looking at other options, but none work as well as QF for me, but a little ticked off about where it is all heading

JM

 

[russ]

I have absolutely NFI how to run an airline...

That hasn't stopped Alan Joyce!

 

[walter82]

What this thread proves is Qantas is not meeting passenger expectations with a lot of decisions being made on mathematical modelling. Of course many of them are a good idea or good business sense but many aren't.
The romance of flying has been completely lost and it does not innovate the way other airlines have in recent times.
So Qantas how about inspiring your very loyal customer base, that may just save you.

 

[geoffl]

2. Your costs are higher than most competitors, in both the domestic and international markets.

It is probably time the TWU and others were bought to Account.
For the past decade the various Unions have run campaign against Qantas, and now, perhaps they might understand that their actions for benefits way above other Airline standards has bought Qantas close to financial ruin, just as they did the decade before with Ansett.
Tony Sheldon must be on such a massive egotistical trip if he can't see what the TWU led push has done to our great Australian Airline.
I guess he doesn't care, but maybe, just maybe, the real "workers" at Qantas can see it is time to follow the lead of United, Delta, American etc and back off on their demands, join the real world and follow the lead of these Airlines that have gone from Chapter 11 to being profitable.

 

[Self Loading]

As the 'new CEO' and I have to assume that the 'Board' is new as well and we are all aligned in trying to save and turn the business around, I would:

1. Build it and they will come, i.e. build QANTAS to be the best by offering the best and that means new equipment.

2. Effective immediately all new aircraft are delivered in QANTAS colours and older aircraft go to JQ Domestic - assuming any former CEO has not made a real offer for the business.

3. Forget about JQ, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore - if the guy I replaced wants it and believes the JQ name is so good, make me an offer. If the CEO prior to him wants to make an offer for QANTAS, I will offer him JQ altogether but all QF owned property will not be available in the sale

4. Forget JQ flying ex Australia, I want to see QANTAS aircraft flying to HNL, NAN, DPS, MNL, etc
Effective immediately all new aircraft are delivered in QANTAS colours and older aircraft go to JQ Domestic - assuming any former CEO has not made a real offer for the business.

5. Grow QF International and I don't simply mean taking over the JQ flying, I want us to return to Europe and will look at daily A380 services via SIN to Berlin where our pax can connect to Europe with Air Berlin.

6. Investigate the loads on QF 9/10 but also look at the timings, I need to see and understand why the QF 9 chases the QF 1 to DBX and onto LHR. Maybe a late arrival time into LHR might be more convenient fro the QF9?

6a - Look at returning to Vancouver, Toronto via SFO perhaps.

7. Expand to China, we must compete with the Chinese carriers in this growing market.

8. Without bias, I will explore the benefits of 777 aircraft with the aim of purchasing/leasing these aircraft to replace ageing 747 aircraft.


On the domestic front:
1. JQ can still add value by flying to destinations but not at the expense of and never taking over the flying of QANTAS.
2. Gold Coast and Hamilton Island will see a large increase in QF flights and less JQ.
3. I will explore creating 'hubs' in Perth and Darwin with the intention of flying international routes from these domestic feeder cities with the 787 aircraft.

Outsourcing:
1. All future maintenance will be completed in Australia, there is no such thing as 'new aircraft do not need maintenance'.
2. The relationship with Accor will not be renewed, we are operating an airline and not a 1, 2 3 or 5 star hotel as their management keep advising our former staff.
JetStar will pay their own way, i.e. QANTAS will not pick up any costs such as fuel, delayed flights, freight, handling, crew training, etc.
3. The relationship with Neil Perry will not be renewed.

Unions & Wages:
The unions will have to determine if they are, 'with us or against us'.
I want to see a proud Australian workforce and know that the wages in the industry are not high compared to other industries, there will be a total wage freeze for a large number of staff for 2 years and others will get an annual CPI increase only.
My pay will drop more than 50% and my direct reports will have similar drops.
2 positions on the board is what I want for staff, this will be explored.

Sales Act:
If the government wants us to be the Australian 'flag carrier' we want to continue with that title however, we need to be protected. Rights can not be handed out for flights into and out of Australian cities to all points of the compass simply because other cashed up and government supported carriers can afford it. If we and Virgin Australia CANNOT fly to the same cities as these carriers as our analysis says it's not viable, well sorry.

We will explore with the government how we can best work with the Sales Act but again Virgin Australia cannot be allowed complete freedom in regards to foreign ownership.

FF
I want a complete review of the scheme and in particular the number of points required to redeem seats, as a start.

 

[gupayami]

Most replies seem to look at business models only. The situation is that Australia is an island, isolated and utterly dependent upon air travel. The airline needs to be part owned and I would encourage the Federal Government to take over a large chunk. The danger is that it will lead to potential public service type inefficiencies, but I would prefer those to cost cutting or selling over to a foreign owned enterprise, which would then have control over everyone's movements, along with attendant risks of lower standards of scrutiny.
It was a grave mistake when the airports were sold off. Sydney is a quagmire now of overpriced parking and a continuous aural blot on the lives of many Sydney residents in central Sydney because successive governments are paralysed from committing to an appropriate airport solution.
The Chinese would never have let this happen to them. Australia has been spooked for too long on the economic rationalist pathway.

I agree with sphericaltravel, in particular regarding the terrible airport Sydney airport has turned into (the customs officers seem to treat every passenger like they are on an episode of Border Patrol; the attitude towards Asian passengers in particular is quite interesting).

I would disagree with nationalising Qantas - it would be an absolute quagmire for the government and a never ending money pit. If we had a low cost wage base and were located in a 'hub' area like the UAE or Singapore then sure a national airline might be reasonable, but for Australia with a strong dollar the best option would be to allow 100% foreign ownership (in my humble opinion). The comparison to Sydney airport does not hold up - we don't have to use Qantas but (many of us) do have to use SYD.

I acknowledge this may not be a popular view but I am really just (sort of) paraphrasing what openseat said - 'Qantas is gilt-edged old economy vested interest Australia'. We need to compete harder with the rest of the world or we too are doomed.

 

[Bigtones]

I would train the air hostesses in how to be friendly and welcoming as Qantas staff have a reputation of being rude and condescending and when flying other airlines they couldn't do more for you. I don't understand why there is this culture in Qantas about having an 'Attitude'. On the other hand there has been a few that have been friendly but they are usually the new ones. Also an example 2 years ago I wanted to book Syd - LA for 15 people economy but Qantas price was $2499 each Rtn while Virgin was $1499, so I rang Qantas and told them of Virgin flight prices and asked for a discount on a group booking of 15pax they replied with ok $2299 each. I couldn't believe it and told them that in 2 months time as it gets closer to the date you will bring the price down to $1400 aswell as this is the current price for 2 months out,but they didn't care so I booked with Virgin at $1300 discounted rate at the time meaning Qantas missed out on my $21000 to VA. I now fly VA regularly now as there B777's are fantastic with much wider economy seats than QAntas and there air bar in business is great. Also I was right Qantas did put there price down to $1400 2 months before the flight. How stupid

 

[anat0l]

As the 'new CEO' and I have to assume that the 'Board' is new as well and we are all aligned in trying to save and turn the business around, I would:

1. Build it and they will come, i.e. build QANTAS to be the best by offering the best and that means new equipment.

2. Effective immediately all new aircraft are delivered in QANTAS colours and older aircraft go to JQ Domestic - assuming any former CEO has not made a real offer for the business.

3. Forget about JQ, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore - if the guy I replaced wants it and believes the JQ name is so good, make me an offer. If the CEO prior to him wants to make an offer for QANTAS, I will offer him JQ altogether but all QF owned property will not be available in the sale

4. Forget JQ flying ex Australia, I want to see QANTAS aircraft flying to HNL, NAN, DPS, MNL, etc
Effective immediately all new aircraft are delivered in QANTAS colours and older aircraft go to JQ Domestic - assuming any former CEO has not made a real offer for the business.

5. Grow QF International and I don't simply mean taking over the JQ flying, I want us to return to Europe and will look at daily A380 services via SIN to Berlin where our pax can connect to Europe with Air Berlin.

6. Investigate the loads on QF 9/10 but also look at the timings, I need to see and understand why the QF 9 chases the QF 1 to DBX and onto LHR. Maybe a late arrival time into LHR might be more convenient fro the QF9?

6a - Look at returning to Vancouver, Toronto via SFO perhaps.

7. Expand to China, we must compete with the Chinese carriers in this growing market.

8. Without bias, I will explore the benefits of 777 aircraft with the aim of purchasing/leasing these aircraft to replace ageing 747 aircraft.


On the domestic front:
1. JQ can still add value by flying to destinations but not at the expense of and never taking over the flying of QANTAS.
2. Gold Coast and Hamilton Island will see a large increase in QF flights and less JQ.
3. I will explore creating 'hubs' in Perth and Darwin with the intention of flying international routes from these domestic feeder cities with the 787 aircraft.

Outsourcing:
1. All future maintenance will be completed in Australia, there is no such thing as 'new aircraft do not need maintenance'.
2. The relationship with Accor will not be renewed, we are operating an airline and not a 1, 2 3 or 5 star hotel as their management keep advising our former staff.
JetStar will pay their own way, i.e. QANTAS will not pick up any costs such as fuel, delayed flights, freight, handling, crew training, etc.
3. The relationship with Neil Perry will not be renewed.

Unions & Wages:
The unions will have to determine if they are, 'with us or against us'.
I want to see a proud Australian workforce and know that the wages in the industry are not high compared to other industries, there will be a total wage freeze for a large number of staff for 2 years and others will get an annual CPI increase only.
My pay will drop more than 50% and my direct reports will have similar drops.
2 positions on the board is what I want for staff, this will be explored.

Sales Act:
If the government wants us to be the Australian 'flag carrier' we want to continue with that title however, we need to be protected. Rights can not be handed out for flights into and out of Australian cities to all points of the compass simply because other cashed up and government supported carriers can afford it. If we and Virgin Australia CANNOT fly to the same cities as these carriers as our analysis says it's not viable, well sorry.

We will explore with the government how we can best work with the Sales Act but again Virgin Australia cannot be allowed complete freedom in regards to foreign ownership.

FF
I want a complete review of the scheme and in particular the number of points required to redeem seats, as a start.

I think you're like me or some others - it's a literal "go for broke" strategy.