What we are witnessing at the moment; the share market; US dollar decline; downgrade in US credit rating; is the beginning of the decline of "western" power and the rise of "eastern" power.
India and China have massive markets and those consumers see what "we" in the west have and they want it. As a result companies that supply this will prosper, even the government owned ones.
Air Asia is tapping into that and as they grow the flag carrier of Malaysia Airlines is declining because their "model" is too much old style. Personally I like their product but they struggle to be profitable.
Yet when you argue this "issue" on this board you're shot down and told Qantas should and can compete with Middle Eastern airlines but choose not too and the competitive market is fair...
People on these boards get upset that essentially the cabin crew, engineers and pilots seem to be blamed for Qantas being unprofitable. Look at the product on the Kangaroo route and compare it to the competition.
One final word, Captain Canada who spoke well, talked about "fair competition", he did not say "level playing field" but that is what he meant. There is no "fair competition". Each entity competes on their inherent strengths be that a perception of safety (QF) a certain sentiment about being miles from home but boarding an aircraft with a crew that welcomes you with an Australian accent(QF) or ultra cheap no frills flights (Air Asia) or even full service two sector flights to Europe from Australia (Emirates).
The calls on here for protection fall on deaf ears, the government will not push up prices by reintroducing protection and they probably cannot legally anyway without retribution from overseas carriers and states. In the same way that Mr Harvey and the retail council want internet purchased imports taxed when they arrive in the country, the government will not punish consumers to protect his profits and nor should they. As they will not punish air travellers to protect QF. Even though they have protected it not so subtlely since privatisation.
This is the world as it is today and where it is going. There is another thread about protection which uses the car industry as an analogy extolling the protection. The tariffs have been slowly wound back, no government is going to increase them.
If Queensland bananas are $20 kilo then send me some from SE Asia at $10. That is what the consumer wants and that is what they will get. If it is a banana or a seat on an aircraft the same market forces apply.
Whether it is sad, fair, or desireable is pretty much irrelevant.