While the Public in general of course LOVE all these cheap air fares, can we really afford them?
Like most of you here, I have a good idea of some of the costs involved in this Industry, particularly in Maintenance and Engineering.
I just cannot see how these cheap fares are possible long term, unless there are some mighty cost savings to the Airlines, and I mean both Virgin Blue and Qantas, not singling one out.
There are of course the well publicised savings in staff costs, reductions in pay and conditions, use of contract labour, removing LAMEs from the tarmac etc.
However are there more sinisters economies being made.
I hear virtually daily, stories about passengers facing delay after delay due to Aircraft U/S, not just some times but EVERY time they travel. While there have of course always been delays, it is MUCH worse now, are the Airlines economising too much on Maintenance, and other areas?
My Father-in-law, who has always travelled Qantas because he doesn't trust anyone else (I don't mean
VB, it goes back way before that), has been in Melbourne and travelled back last night to OOL.
He was so annoyed with Qantas as he was 90 minutes late.
They were loaded onto one Aircraft at Tullamarine, then off loaded again as it was U/S, they were told an engine problem. Then loaded onto a second Aircraft which went U/S before departure, this time they were told it was an hydraulic problem. Finally Aircraft number 3 managed to stay serviceable long enough to do MEL to OOL.
As someone who has played a SMALL part in our Industry for the last 40 years, I would hate to see our fine safety record destroyed, just to provide cheap fares.
Cheap fares are all well and good, but NOT at the expense of safety, or God forbid an Aircraft loss.
