GB, I think you fail to understand the reasons behind some of Dixon's structural choices. Remember, he learnt a lot while talking with Allco and Mac Bank, and one of the great ambitions was to release some of the value in the support services and other businesses Qantas has by virtue of its operations. If market conditions had remained as they were during mid 2007, the business world would now be congratulating QF for spinning off catering, fleet, freight, Frequent Flyer and other businesses and now sitting on a pile of cash. To have those runnning as discrete businesses means having to employ the right staff and different numbers to make it happen.
Of course, things have changed dramatically, and in this climate it makes more sense to slim down the businesses (which is possible via some reintegration, as AJ appears to be doing now). Some time in the future once things are better, there will probably be a change back toward the former manner. It's probably best to say that GD did well to steer through SARS, 9/11 and also made good hay while the sun shone, but AJ will have to prove his ability to make the big decisions to push the company through and preserve cash (especially when revenues are falling) to keep it well positioned for the clearer skies which are ahead at some point.