Qantas to move 717 heavy maintenance to Singapore

[moa999]

That does not necessarily mean they are not efficient as an aircraft.

Efficiency is always relative to what other aircraft you have in your fleet and what is on the horizon.

that they are the 'Spirit of Australia'.

A made in China boomerang has the 'spirit' of Australia. Qantas has never claimed to be 100% Australian (bit hard with planes made overseas) and at least it's (just) majority Australian owned

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Qantas has never claimed to be 100% Australian

Of course, they can't. But they can brand themselves and have people believe that they are 'the spirit' of Australia. Australian designers for the amenity kits, for the cabin interiors, for lounges, for the crew uniforms, for the menus. Everything but the plane itself.

 

[samh004]

Of course, they can't. But they can brand themselves and have people believe that they are 'the spirit' of Australia. Australian designers for the amenity kits, for the cabin interiors, for lounges, for the crew uniforms, for the menus. Everything but the plane itself.

It's nice to highlight "Australian-made" when you can, but you can't always get the best product/value when doing so. It's the issue of weighing up nationalism with what actually works in the real world.

In this thread, the topic is that B717 heavy maintenance is moving offshore because of a value proposition no doubt. At the end of the day, where they are going they will still receive great care (despite the spin that we're presumably getting that the best service comes from Australians – that hasn't been my experience). That doesn't make the airline any less Australian, much like they generally serve Champagne not Australian sparkling in higher classes, it's just about doing the best for the business.

I don't think it would even matter if they one day became 100% foreign-owned... because at the end of the day it's the branding that makes them Australian. Plus, they're based in Australia.

Look at VA, they're foreign-owned, but they still seem Australian... somehow?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's nice to highlight "Australian-made" when you can, but you can't always get the best product/value when doing so.

Indeed... the uniforms, cabin interiors, food, and amenity kits just to name a few

The issue of moving jobs off shore isn't an economic one. No doubt it's cheaper overseas. The argument is the emotional one... when the 'brand' doesn't match reality.