ALAEA,
you don't think a drover's dog could have done it just as well do you?
QF should have a workforce of no more than 25,000, productivity should be 15 to 20% higher, and the cost base should be 3cents / ASK lower.
GD is viewed as a great CEO now.....when time and competent share market analysts (and the QF knobled journos - love free trips) do realistic analysis of his performance, he will be seen as a man who has squandered the farm because he did not make the tough commercial decisions to strengthen the company.
GD has been protected from real competition by the Government. The only place he makes any money is between SYD - MEL, East Coast - Perth, Across the pacific and over to J'burg. Great business eh? If SIA of EK was to be allowed on the Pacific, QF would be in ruins. Protectionism is short term. Anyone who bleats that SIA has no right to operate on the Pacific is simply grabbing at straws and delaying the inevitable. SIA will operate on the Pacific. More to the point, QF could compete successfully against them when it happens if GD uses the time to:
reduce the workforce to no more than 25,000,
increase productivity by 15 to 20%,
lower the mainline cost base by 3cents / ASK lower
Will he do it.....no... he will get rid of 1000 senior managers. BFD