Jetstar strategy may be clear to some, but as a regular traveller they are often more expensive than both QF and VA so go figure.
Not sure why anyone would pay more for a lesser experience and be happy about it under any circumstances but the smartest guys in the room obviously have (or it that had) a plan that ignores the punter.
We are the only full service airline that has successfully launched a LCC.
(How successful?)
The Boeing 777 is old technology.
(Comedian Dixon)
We are the oldest continuously operating airline in the world.
(Until I decided to ground the airline)
We are one of only 2 investment grade airlines in the world.
(We were until today)
Jetstar has expanded faster than Ryanair or Easyjet in their first 8,9years.
(Nothing like expanding too quickly)
We will not cannibalise mainline.
(We are smarter than all the other full service airlines that did this)
And from Reuters:
UPDATE 1-Qantas relegated to junk status after shock loss warning
SYDNEY, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Embattled Qantas Airways Ltd was relegated to junk status by credit rating agency Standard & Poor's on Friday, a day after the Australian carrier issued a shock loss warning that sent its shares to a 16-month low.
S&P cut its ratings on Qantas by a notch to BB+/B, one rank below investment grade, and placed a negative outlook on the airline that means ratings could be cut again. The agency said a structural shift in the domestic competitive landscape had weakened Qantas' business risk profile.
The downgrade means that Qantas could lose some shareholders whose rules on investment prevent them from retaining stock in companies rated below investment grade. It also means the carrier will have to pay higher rates when it borrows money.
Qantas also faces the prospect of losing a chunk of its $2.8 billion cash balance: the rating downgrade could slow the transfer of revenue from credit card companies for ticket sales because additional processing is now required.
Adding to Qantas's headaches, ratings agency Moody's on Thursday placed its Baa3 rating on the airline, the lowest investment grade, under review for a possible downgrade.
It says it all really - a great Australian company absolutely trashed to junk status by junk-class management.
It'll be interesting to see what results from the bail-out from the Share Registry by the shareholders whose rules on investment prevent them from retaining stock in junk status outfits.
I wonder what 'spin' the QF Management, Board and Chairman will try to pin on the competition when that happens?
