Qantas - what will Coronavirus mean in the medium term?

[get me outta here]

Don't want to be alarmist, but found this interesting, if many people get on the road we could get something like this : More traffic deaths in wake of 9/11

"The fear of terrorist attacks (or Virus attack),can alter our everyday behaviour and result in more fatal traffic accidents.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, many Americans started driving more due to a fear of flying -- and lost their lives in traffic accidents. But why did this happen more frequently in some states than in others? And why didn't Spanish driving habits change in the same way following the 2004 train bombings in Madrid? Wolfgang Gaissmaier and Gerd Gigerenzer from the Harding Center for Risk Literacy at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin present new findings on this topic in the journal Psychological Science.
As we all know, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 changed the world: The feeling of vulnerability led to the so-called "war on terror." New laws were passed and surveillance intensified to reduce the risk of direct damage resulting from terrorism. But terrorist attacks also cause indirect damage. This comes about through people's thoughts and fears in reaction to such attacks. In the case of 9/11, it was primarily severe losses in the aviation and tourism industries. Earlier studies showed that, following the terrorist attacks, more people chose to drive rather than fly, feeling it was safer. The result was not just a greater risk of traffic congestion: in the twelve months following September 11, 2001, there were an estimated 1,600 more accident-related deaths on American roads than would have been expected statistically..."

My company, which is a major international "Fortune 100" company that you've certainly heard of, has banned all travel, including domestically, without senior VP approval. We are fighting to get approval to travel to NZ for a critical project. They aren't worried about NZ specifically since it has very few cases, but more the fact that we'll be in a plane at all, which could have others who recently traveled internationally from affected areas, on the same plane. They are suggesting car travel for domestic Australia where possible, as a safer option.

 

[RichardMEL]

The psychology at play here is something else to behold and probably will result in a few papers.. eg the toilet paper hysteria.

Stressful/fear induced situations like this, or a terrorist attack, or war etc.. bring out the worst in *some* people.

It's such a weird turnaround - two months ago everyone was banding together to support bushfire victims and all of that.. now they'll punch your head in for a roll of loo paper....

 

[Melburnian1]

The psychology at play here is something else to behold and probably will result in a few papers.. eg the toilet paper hysteria.

Stressful/fear induced situations like this, or a terrorist attack, or war etc.. bring out the worst in *some* people.

It's such a weird turnaround - two months ago everyone was banding together to support bushfire victims and all of that.. now they'll punch your head in for a roll of loo paper....

Wary of going OT for too long, but from what I've read, Australians were consistently at their 'best' during WWII.

They may not have liked or enjoyed rationing, but apparently accepted it and lived as best they could (that by today's material standards was very 'poorly.')

Is the difference now solely attributable to all-encompassing social media, or fewer attending church (well above 500,000 attend Sunday Mass though), the 'me' generation focused on material goods, wants instant gratification and thinks of 'entitlements and rights' but rarely 'responsibilities', or something else?

As you say, various upmarket journals and academics in time will have a field day.

 

[trevella]

Wary of going OT for too long, but from what I've read, Australians were consistently at their 'best' during WWII.

They may not have liked or enjoyed rationing, but apparently accepted it and lived as best they could (that by today's material standards was very 'poorly.')

Is the difference now solely attributable to all-encompassing social media, or fewer attending church (well above 500,000 attend Sunday Mass though), the 'me' generation focused on material goods, wants instant gratification and thinks of 'entitlements and rights' but rarely 'responsibilities', or something else?

As you say, various upmarket journals and academics in time will have a field day.

That was *way* too long.

 

[RichardMEL]

(more OT)

Yes, I think social media AND things like 24/7 TV news, mobile phone video (eg the women fighting in woolies) and so on have all added to the current situation. In many ways the access to "real time" information and "news"(is video of women fighting over toilet paper "news"? Not sure). has benefited many people greatly, but there is a darker side that enhances fear and stupidity.

I dare say back in the day also things were far more regimented in our society, there was more discipline and respect. If an older person said "Don't do something stupid" you wouldn't (probably for fear of getting in big trouble!) and also availability of "news" was far more restricted - the newspapers/radio only had what the govt wanted them to have (in terms of war coverage) - I do not mean censorship per se, just that even your foreign correspondents writing stories from the front.. they may not see the light of day back home for days if not weeks (and obviously the military reviewed it all).

Fast fwd even to the 60's and 70's - Vietnam and beyond were live on TV and it was much more real. Now anyone,anywhere can (and do) take video on their phones and post things on facebook (or AFF ) that may or may not even be accurate.

.. and people get influenced.

 

[Melburnian1]

Many or all of the QFi A388 cabin crew (and pilots) won't be 'qualified' (currently) on anything but that aircraft will they?

So unpaid leave after annual leave credits run out for a stack of these staff?

 

[exceladdict]

Time for some A380 Points Plane domestically...

Time for both airlines to open up every open seat for 'classic' points bookings. Transfer some of that unearned income sitting in the loyalty department to revenue for the core business

 

[QFflyermelbourne]

A380 crew are QCCA employed and almost all are dual rated on 380/787. QF crew these days for international are divided 380/787 and 747/330.

 

[Melburnian1]

A380 crew are QCCA employed and almost all are dual rated on 380/787. QF crew these days for international are divided 380/787 and 747/330.

But fewer crew members required per B789 compared to an A388. Roughly 12 v 20?

 

[VPS]

Bring back ASA's

 

[Rangalad]

Many or all of the QFi A388 cabin crew (and pilots) won't be 'qualified' (currently) on anything but that aircraft will they?

So unpaid leave after annual leave credits run out for a stack of these staff?

IIRC
A380 cabin crew have been (or are currently) being trained on the 787.

Another round of VR (Voluntary Redundancy) offers (Cabin Crew) just closed, with another predicted soon.

 

[Justinf]

I'm currently serving day 13 of a 14-day quarentine after returning from Japan on 26 February and am working from home.
It's absolutely wonderful to start drinking wine at 3pm while still at work.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm currently serving day 13 of a 14-day quarentine after returning from Japan on 26 February and am working from home.
It's absolutely wonderful to start drinking wine at 3pm while still at work.

They say red wine has fever fighting properties. It would be irresponsible not to drink it.

 

[Himeno]

I'm currently serving day 13 of a 14-day quarentine after returning from Japan on 26 February

14 day quarantine - Work requirement or Government requirement?

 

[Melburnian1]

IIRC
A380 cabin crew have been (or are currently) being trained on the 787.

Another round of VR (Voluntary Redundancy) offers (Cabin Crew) just closed, with another predicted soon.

Rangalad, thanks. Great. I've since seen on TV news that Mr Joyce says '2000 positions' are presently surplus to requirements (which I assume means 'QF Group', not just 'QFi' 'QFd' or JQd/JQi' individually.

Media doesn't explain all, but doesn't seem to have indicated there's a 'hiring freeze' on across the company. Perhaps we just take it as read.

 

[ja1]

My company, which is a major international "Fortune 100" company that you've certainly heard of, has banned all travel, including domestically, without senior VP approval. We are fighting to get approval to travel to NZ for a critical project. They aren't worried about NZ specifically since it has very few cases, but more the fact that we'll be in a plane at all, which could have others who recently traveled internationally from affected areas, on the same plane. They are suggesting car travel for domestic Australia where possible, as a safer option.

Charter a plane!

Alternately, can the take the quantum of $$ needed for the flights, triple it as a cost of business and setup a much more sophisticated VC..

I'll fly to NZ on your behalf to setup the endpoint you need over there!

 

[justinbrett]

Downgrade QF1/2 to 787 and operate SYD-PER-LHR?

Do I get a prize for guessing this correctly?

 

[Justinf]

14 day quarantine - Work requirement or Government requirement?

Both. A person at work totally freaked out when he thought I was coming straight back to work.
I rang the government hotline and they suggested 14 day quarantine, which work agreed to which was amazing considering working from home is dicouraged.

 

[ja1]

Both. A person at work totally freaked out when he thought I was coming straight back to work.
I rang the government hotline and they suggested 14 day quarantine, which work agreed to which was amazing considering working from home is dicouraged.

Does working from home qualify you for overtime as well ?

Is there a concept of reverse hazard pay (where you're considered a hazard so they pay you extra to stay away)

 

[jpp42]

Alternately, can the take the quantum of $$ needed for the flights, triple it as a cost of business and setup a much more sophisticated VC..

Not possible for all work! Mine involves the setup and configuration of specific high-end equipment for which only a few people are qualified... without us travelling to site the project doesn't go ahead.