Originally Posted by
an.other
The whole subsidised state airline argument is a smokescreen to hide Qantas' inability to innovate with the crisis. The privately owned unsubsidised Americans, British, Japanese, Hong Kongers etc etc have maintained skeleton long haul flying, Qantas' response is more or less uniquely inadequate for a first world airline.
Delta, American and United have continued some services to Australia. Delta just announced a loss of $5.4 billion for the last
quarter! I think it was north of $12 billion for the year. AA loss of $3 billion for the quarter. BA lost $1.3B EUD for the quarter and is at about $4B EUD for the first half. Qantas on the other hand wrote down the entire value of the A380 fleet and still only came out at $2 billion for last FY. Imagine what the loss would be if they were flying empty aeroplanes all over the world as you suggest.
Australia has been pretty clear and consistent with the international* border rules for months now. I don’t like many of them but they are what they are.
(Let’s not start on the state rules. They’re a complete basket case that often change when aircraft are mid flight).