The current toxic environment and management of the brand will not change in the near future. The board and executive don't have the humility to admit how they have been wrong. Unlike a few years ago the next 12-15 months will see Qantas under attack from both sides, leisure and high yield.
Jetstar will be under pressure both from a weak leisure travel sector and Tiger, while Qantas domestic will be dealing with an invigorated Virgin product. This will test AJ's ability, he has never really faced any competition in the domestic arena before, and its against his money cow, Qantas domestic.
Virgin has brought the fight to parts of Qantas that JB knows domestically needs a lot of money spent on it, the cabin, the staff and the aircraft. The new Qantas A330's and 738's are probably some of the best equipped (in terms of seats and IFE)domestic aircraft around, but its luck of the draw if you get them. The old 734/8 and 767's unfortunately decrease the appeal. Throw in the fact you must use J* on some routes and JB's plan to attack the Qantas brand starts to make even more sense. You fly virgin you know what you are getting to every destination, who knows what you get when you buy a Qantas ticket?
What do you do AJ? This isn't a threat you can use J* to counter, even with a domestic starclass. Interesting times. This might actually turn out to be the best thing for Qantas domestic since Dixon bought Impulse......then again probably not.
