Prof,
You're full of it. Three of my extended family have links with the business. One is married to a travel agent who sell flights and cruises and stuff. One flies for Virgin Blue and one worked in Qantas cabins but has now escaped.
The Virgins got no help from Howard. Qantas didn't grab 90% of the market, it was put under seige by huge numbers of people who didn't have any alternative. I think the Virgins had 8 or 9 jets at that time. Qantas hasn't grown its share of international. It has bled customers to the superior services of Singapore, Cathay Pacific and Air NZ and scored big time losses to Emirates from braver souls than me.
I don't really like flying with Virgin but at a lower fare than Qantas for a reasonable seat it works fine for short trips. You can be pro union or anti union, I don't give a stuff one way or 'tother but I do know when a company is in deep **** with its customers and that is Qantas at this stage.
It needs new leadership.