The real issue with the
PR battle is what will the consumers reaction be when, come Aug 24, the bulk of the QF international operation will be off shored and likely flown / maintained by foreigners.
QF doesn't need to win the
PR battle, just land enough blows to convince the consumer that:
- there will be no reduction in 'safety' when QF flights are flown by Captain Rujput Japarti from Mumbai whose professional standards involve a forged logbook and a ATPL obtained through bribing a government official; and
- airfares will get lower.
If consumer behaviour is influenced by the AIPA campaign, and there is a backlash against 'Qantas Asia", then Qantas will have no choice but to change its plans.
AIPA on the other hand, must play every aspect of the campaign with a straight bat. Unlike Qantas it cannot lie or distort the truth, or resort to employing gutter journalists like Joe Hildebrand.
So the contest is one sided in a sense. Still, we have not had a defining even in the PIA campaign yet (such as during the waterfront dispute when masked guards with attack dogs were seen to be 'menacing' women and children on the picket line).
Overall I think AIPA is doing the best it can. Only time will tell if its enough or not.