Originally Posted by
Traffic_Is_Er_Was
The pilots want to get on the front foot with this, because if they can it and blame the pilots, it will just reflect in the media badly - "Over paid, under worked pilots holding out for more money....again!" QF pilots are on a hiding to nothing over this. QF will use the test flights to trumpet it can be done, and then it's only the greedy pilots stopping it. Good luck swallowing this sh*t sandwich.
The court of public opinion matters little.
British Airways roll out the same play book as do RyanAir et al.
What matters is the reality that pilot costs represent but a fraction of operating cost per hour.
With each unit of air frame likely costing (with a sliding AUD) circa AUD$400 million, pilot costs are irrelevant.
Although it seemed to work once before with the 787 "deal" pushed by now lead IR negotiator (formerly Stream Lead) former Union President Mr Safe, ever the one trick pony, Little Napoleon will try it again!
Had they actually run an airline, the real grind of aviation, the fleet capital would have been sourced, the order placed and the aircraft likely in operation.
It is much easier to provide column inches to the daily rags, who themselves are desperate for advertising revenue, providing commentary on social discourse.
It is also far more profitable to use surplus cash flow and cheap debt to pump the EPS that enriches insiders with share buy-backs.