Other info extracted from official QF Press Release gives hope for job opprtunities perhaps for surplus AN MkI staff (interesting QF emphasis on Young Australians):
Australian Airlines Takes Off
Sydney, 11 December 2001 :
Chief Executive of Australian Airlines, Mr Denis Adams, said the airline would be a single class, full service leisure carrier.
The initial services will be non-stop return from Cairns to Osaka, Nagoya, Singapore, Taipei, Hong Kong and Fukuoka.
"We will have one aircraft type and one class of service.
Mr Adams said Australian Airlines had the potential to provide thousands of jobs for young Australians in an industry undergoing massive change.'
Australian Airlines would:
- Locate its first operational base in Cairns;
- Commence operations with four Boeing 767-300 aircraft, building to a fleet of 12 767-300s;
- Offer connecting flights between Cairns and the Gold Coast, six times a week;
- Be headquartered in Sydney and establish a second base to Cairns in a southern capital city;
- Establish a national presence as quickly as possible and eventually fly to every Australian mainland capital including Perth and Darwin.
"Australian will not fly on any routes against Qantas. Our job will be to create profitable flying on routes Qantas has withdrawn from or on routes from where
Qantas has been unable to extract a satisfactory return," he said.
Australian Airlines would join the Qantas Frequent Flyer program and would seek membership of the oneworld™ alliance through Qantas.
"We look forward to working with all the States as we expand over the next two years."
Issued by Qantas Public Affairs (a200101)