According to the above article wages make up about 20% of an airlines costs?
Yes, and that is only direct wages. Everything the business purchases has a wages component as well, from the ingredients to make the food to the fuel that is uploaded, and just about every single one of that myriad of expenses is dearer in Australia than just about anywhere else in the world, and most of that is due to the cost of labour in Australia.
Why is it so?
Because every unskilled labourer in this country is choosing to exercise their right to have a flat screen TV, V8 ute and a smart phone and uses unions to ensure that assumed birthright is at least keeping up with inflation, plus a bit.
Add to that Work Cover, superannuation, Long Service leave Holiday Loadings, public Holidays, 36 hr weeks, redundancy provisions, sick leave, carers leave, personal leave, smoking breaks, f@ck me its a wonder anything gets done.
Whether those "entitlements" are right or wrong is irrelevant, our competitors don't have them, therefore their cost base is lower therefore Qantas is not competitive and is unlikely to ever be again, on the international stage.