No one so far seems to have picked up on the CRAF/Delta connection.
This is a method that the US has used to keep US operators alive and in some cases establish them.However in this case I doubt if Delta needs the help and maybe times are changing for the better for us?
Any examination of some of the US now defunct freight/charter operators shows some interesting examples including operators being provided with free or subsidised freight conversions of older B747.These are then operated on the open world market as free enterpise airlines (undercutting airlines)which explains why for many years these airlines dominated the cargo market.
Couple this with the unique Chapter 11 and the home of free enterprise is actually somewhat Government subsidised. Same with the US bailout (purchase) of US carriers after the great financial crash, not exactly free enterprise either.
At least the US knows what it wants and then sets up a mechanism to acheive it. Here we dont know what we want so we certainly wont achieve anything.So we solve our military transport problems by letting our airlines fail due to poor policy and defence wise replacing them with very expensive large RAAF aircraft or bring in foreigners do do the work.I like the US solution better. Its cheaper and far more flexible as was the old system where Qantas did just what the US, CRAF opererators do now.
Wunwing