The problem you guys have is that your cost structure is too high , simple mathematics really.
The only international markets you have had any success in are those where there is pretty much zero competition, across the Pacific.
And you just got plain lucky there, just like this upcoming profit, just some straight out luck with your fuel prices.
In the 90s , early 2000s you got flogged by Cathay/Sing , lost immense amounts of traffic , whinged about it, retreated from the market
Then you had the 3 middle Eastern get to work on you , provide a much better service , pretty much eat you alive , whinged about it , essentially retreated from the market
Then the Chinese got to work on you, & yet again another retreat , and almost a complete retreat from the market.
The only areas you guys have had any success on in the international space have been across the Pacific. V little competition as the US carriers were all in Chapt 11 for donkeys years. Gee you were the champions then across the Pacific , when the other guys were in bankruptcy.
The only part of your company that has consistently made money is your grocery shopping loyalty program , remember you guys are actually meant to be running an airline. Spivvy little program it is to , clipping small retailers an extra 1% to use cards , splitting the dough with the banks , then not actually allowing to use the points. Gee that would be hard to make money on.
I would like to see an airline/cartel getting such approval for a program in any other first world jurisdiction , they wouldn't wear that kind of crap in Canada, NZ , UK.
Travel to Asia a little often see your Crews around. I don't think I have spotted a Cabin Crew member under the age of late 40s. Understand all on a wage, after allowances , overtime of $120K to $200K. They were really quite old & many were substantially overweight. On the aircraft they are OK but think & act much slower than their SIA / Cathay counterparts, & for some reason seem to think cleaning the toilets is beneath them. Interesting crowd really.
Why do you think 787s will come ? , your international business has been in decline for years, & your international fleet is the same size as it was 30 years.
In fact you probably have a smaller international fleet than 1985 in terms of number of seats , with around 30 742s, a couple of SPs , 743s back then.
It's a pretty simple equation really if you cost 50 to 100 % more than your competitors & work 50% less , you just aren't going to make any money.
Take a look at your Second Officers QF A380 guys consistently earn over $250K , the Cathay second officers earn $100k tops.
The QF long haul flight crew & cabin crew have been difficult recalcitrant unions for management to have any sensible dialogue with over the past twenty years. They all seem to want to golden days of the 1980s to live on , 500 hours a year or something. So that is why in 2015 your international business is a train wreck, Six times as many international arrivals to Aust over last 30 years & your Int Fleet size is the same as 1985.
Well played guys !!
QF management spending billions to buy you guys 787s , forget it guys , it just ain't gonna happen.
