I wouldn’t be getting too excited by any of it. This article and subsequent speculation here has come about thanks to a graphic in the annual results presentation.
After negative words from S&P, Montgomery, and others, about Qantas’ need (upcoming requirements) for capital expenditures on fleet renewal, there needed to be some evidence that management has their finger on the pulse on this ‘sort-of-important-yet-inconvenient’ aspect of running an Airline.
Some Graphic Design lackey in IT or Marketing was told to skip the table tennis/Basket Weaving session in the street, given some Airbus/Boeing/Embraer/Bombardier marketing pamphlets and a couple of copies of Australian Aviation, and had the task of designing something to point to when Management came under pressure from being questioned on spending money Share Buybacks and Enormous bonuses, instead of focusing on using present financial success to set the airline up for a modern, fuel efficient future.
Qantas fleet metrics are horrible.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-1...-study/9333616
Mr Montgomery shifted position after taking another look at Qantas.
Behind lots of self serving media, were bad numbers.
With the non cancellable order for the A320 order, a change to IFRS16 (leases) the on balance sheet structure of Qantas is going to change, it will be interesting to see.
They are trying to divert attention from their inattention to structure the fleet.
Their Cap Ex has been deferred as long as possible, while the self enrichment program went full steam ahead.
Qantas need a new fleet.
The B717 is not their big problem and a fully depreciated bedded in fleet even an older airframe is not an issue where given operating metrics are favourable.