Covid has only served to accelerate the demise of Mainline. Qantas goal in the last 30 years is to destroy Union influence, outsource as many Services as possible, casualise the workforce and if they are unable to do these things, grow external entities to "consume" what was operated under Legacy Conditions (think Swissair/ Menzies/ Alliance/ Network).. The Cost Savings achieved have not been re-invested in the Mainline Product- eg the last mainline aircraft order was December 2005 (787)- and not even returned to shareholders, but has been used to en-richen the Elite Management few, and has been used to in injecting funds into the Jetstar Asia/ Vietnam/ Japan. (return on capital anyone?).
Post covid, with the long term reduction in business travel, it will only be worse. Despite the Company spruiking that the 737 will "be redeployed to other services" the Alliance operated ADL-ASP-DRW is the thin edge of the latest wedge.The VX 737's are over 20 years old, they will NOT be replaced one for one, there will be a small order of 73 Max or A320/ 321 mix to replace around 35 aircraft, who knows when and you only have to look at the quote by the COO to wonder who will operate them.
As for long haul the A350 will be ideal in the post-covid world, but the longer they at least commit to an order..
A380..who knows, but if it doesn't operate again there will be a massive RIN, and probably another VR (hopefully no CR..)
Add into the mix the requirement for an A330 replacement in the next 5-10 years (can anyone confirm that 4 are to be made freighters??).
Anyway, if 30 odd years in QF has taught me anything- management will look after themselves (apparently the current 737 could have been avoided, but AD/AJ insisted) and for the rest of us..the future is as clear as koolaid.
Look after yourselves people, ring/ text your mates, because as the Yammer episode shows- the Company couldn't give a stuff.