Qantas and Holden also thrived in a small, easily pleased market without much competition. Times have changed and there are a now a host of other options for Aussie consumers when it comes to cars and international airline tickets. While I think the average Australian is sentimental about the 'great' Aussie icons, unfortunately that doesn't change the way they spend their dollars. Unless a local company is particularly savvy, offers a unique product and manages to lift themselves above the international competition they will suffer.
Qantas management haven't been able to do any of those things, and to make matters worse they eroded a hell of a lot of local support by grounding the fleet and incoveniencing thousands of customers.
IMO their actions handballed a whole lot of formerly loyal QF customers towards Virgin that wouldn't otherwise have tried their product. Having tried it they liked it, and kept on using it.
It is a pity that the pilot unions have not learned that public perception IS important & that rather than maintaining a dignified silence, they need to fight fire with fire & answer every single one of the misleading press releases with the facts.
They may be doing their best, but if the mainstream press have an axe to grind then it won't make a difference. They are competing with a massively well funded Qantas spin machine with money and resources. Of course the lucrative Qantas newspaper and television advertising contracts have absolutely
nothing to do with it; we've got a free press, haven't we?
