Possible closure of Canberra, Hobart and Mildura staff bases

[RooFlyer]

No it doesn’t. NJS doesn’t have spare aircraft, so yet another engine change on the green A220 last week saw a 737 subbed in, which cannot be flown by the HBA crew. Come the end of the month it’s bye A220, hello 737 on the Sydney flights as well.

Don't understand any of that. Are you saying that not having a Hobart based crew makes no effect in irrops?

If an ex-HBA morning flight has a pilot or SO get ill, what happens if no base?

 

[markis10]

If an ex-HBA morning flight has a pilot or SO get ill, what happens if no base?

Same thing that happens everywhere else, replacement crew from the hotel if needed. HBA had 6 crew sets which is not enough to support ops year round, so they were already flying in subs as needed or cancelling flights as they did this morning. As it stands they are occasionally subbing 737s when hardware fails, as I pointed out the local crew are of no help when this happens because they are not rated on the 737, be it pilots or cabin crew, thanks to being a different company!

 

[Catweazle]

An HBA crew-base wouldn’t just service HBA surely. That would have also supported Launceston, Devonport, Burnie etc too.

 

[RooFlyer]

Same thing that happens everywhere else, replacement crew from the hotel if needed. HBA had 6 crew sets which is not enough to support ops year round, so they were already flying in subs as needed or cancelling flights as they did this morning. As it stands they are occasionally subbing 737s when hardware fails, as I pointed out the local crew are of no help when this happens because they are not rated on the 737, be it pilots or cabin crew, thanks to being a different company!

I don’t doubt any of that. But what about engineers? What about no crew in hotel but there is one at home in Hobart?

I’m sure it happens elsewhere and already, as you say but not you’re not going to convince me that not having a base in Hobart is not going to cause disruptions to be greater out of Hobart, which is what I was saying.

I mean, if it’s no operational advantage why did they do it in the first place?

 

[markis10]

I don’t doubt any of that. But what about engineers? What about no crew in hotel but there is one at home in Hobart?

I’m sure it happens elsewhere and already, as you say but not you’re not going to convince me that not having a base in Hobart is not going to cause disruptions to be greater out of Hobart, which is what I was saying.

I mean, if it’s no operational advantage why did they do it in the first place?

Not sure about your reference to engineers, they’re not part of a crew base of tech and cabin crew.

1. Recently the Dash 8 entity merged with NJS so now they have a large pool of staff that can work on both as far as cabin crew goes in a central location, HBA advantage gone, once training is done elsewhere.

2. The EBA renegotiation for NJS is close, and the old EBA provided no incentive to do overtime, so a call to off duty staff resulted more often in a “no” than a “yes”, HBA advantage gone.

3. Usually there is at least two crews overnighting, IIRC NJS EBA have a lower minimum hours off between duty, so if a sickie is called, replacements can be moved from the later flight to the earlier flight with backup jumpseating down in the interim.

So Qantas have a subsidiary running a very small base,where there is no advantage for them now they do both props and jets, to have local staff!

 

[Harrison_133]

1. Recently the Dash 8 entity merged with NJS so now they have a large pool of staff that can work on both as far as cabin crew goes in a central location, HBA advantage gone, once training is done elsewhere.

Worth noting this hasn't actually happened yet, but there are reportedly plans to bring the A220/Dash under one AOC.

 

[kookaburra75]

Qantas pledges to expand Canberra flights after confirming base closure

Qantas pledges to expand Canberra flights after confirming base closure | Region Canberra

Qantas has offered the sweetener of more Qantaslink services to Canberra after confirming it will close its Canberra base next…

region.com.au

Reading the fine print, "...Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson had committed to expanding QantasLink A220 services to Canberra..." But does that actually mean more flights, or just swapping out Dash 8s for A220s and having the same number of flights? Time will tell.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

I loved the line "It's not about cost savings or profitability, it's about setting us up for success as we go through a significant period of growth and renewal".
Do these people even read these nonsense talking points before they approve them?

 

[RooFlyer]

I loved the line "It's not about cost savings or profitability, it's about setting us up for success as we go through a significant period of growth and renewal".
Do these people even read these nonsense talking points before they approve them?

Some Qantas lackey gave a statement to ABC Hobart radio when the issue was blowing up there. I tried to find it on their site (no), but it included phrases like

"So we can serve the people of Hobart better .... " and "So we can respond more quickly to problems as they arise in Hobart ..."

I nearly lost my breakfast.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Some Qantas lackey gave a statement to ABC Hobart radio when the issue was blowing up there. I tried to find it on their site (no), but it included phrases like

"So we can serve the people of Hobart better .... " and "So we can respond more quickly to problems as they arise in Hobart ..."

I nearly lost my breakfast.

ABC had the corker above at 0:35

The lack of accountability is the issue, do whatever and say whatever they want with zero consequences. It would be fitting if there's some major curfuffles at CNB airport next sitting week, only way government would look at properly regulating anti-competitive and price gouging behaviour. Of course, I'm sure they'd just be comfy and unbothered in the chairman's lounge...