Qantas to go all AIRBUS?
Perhaps we should consider the current offer from a strategic point of view. What would be the driver behind the structure of the offer that would benefit Qantas the most in the longer term by reducing pilot costs?
Consider the possibility that Qantas goes all Airbus, buying types A220, A320, (A330), A350, (A380) to eventually replace all aircraft in their fleets (Qantas, Jetstar, Also-ran's). Is that a possibility or even a probability with the recent selection of the A350 over the B787?
What about the possibility of cheap B737 MAX replacements? Yep, a one-off cost saving. But the cost of an airframe pales significantly when taking into account the running costs of an airframe over the life of type. All things being equal, the B737 MAX price would still be very attractive. But things financial are not equal between an all Airbus fleet and a mixed manufacturer fleet. That costing is being done right now as we speak somewhere deep inside Qantas HQ.
Long term advantages include significantly reduced crew training requirements (Airbus to Airbus) and ongoing costs over the life of Airbus types. Also the enormous flexibility it gives to crewing to have pilots multi-qualified on two or more Airbus types. For, example, when the crew turn up at dispatch, they find the A350 they were expecting to fly has been substituted for an A320 due to low pax load. Happens all the time in other Airbus equipped airlines.
Qantas to go All Airbus?
What is the strategy at Jetstar in selling B787s? Is it because of the ongoing strikes (now solved)? Will they be replaced with B787s from Qantas? Or perhaps it is a part of the long term strategy to turn Jetstar into an all Airbus fleet as well?
Perhaps we should re-look at the offer in terms of becoming all-Airbus airline with all pilots having multi-Airbus ratings to see if the offer stacks up. Effectively, an all Airbus fleet might eventually drag the pilots to a one common jet salary with the consequent loss of hard-fought-for established pay and conditions. That would be a huge win for management and might be their quest for the golden fleece?
I don't know what is in the mind of the folks who are trying to screw you, but it all revolves around power and greed. Look at it from their point of view to seek the answers.