There isn't an agreed flight time formula used anywhere within the Qantas Group - and certainly none agreed with a union. Long Haul, in the past, have had bun fights over 'creative' schedules by pattern planning for not taking into account headwinds, etc. on some routes.
Short Haul are having the same thing happen to them too, under the header 'fuel conservation'. Like I've said before, nice to know we're not alone
Funny how it's fuel conservation when it brings the pattern to within 5 minnutes of exceeding a crew's duty. Someone's earning a bonus somewhere!
With the 25 minute turnarounds, and R2 meant to NOW watch over Gate Gourmet as they load each individual box of nachos, can of pepsi, etc. it means one less person to clean...and as as result...no cleaning at all really.
If that's what they want, then that's what they'll get!
(PS. I loved the afterburner concept...truth be told, they'd switch the engines off inflight and glide if they could!)