FBN:--- you still haven't told me how much a brand new SO in QF earns compared to a brand new CX SO?
QF fly 1 Capt, 1 FO and 2 SO's on their long haul whereas CX fly 1 Capt, 2 FO's and 1 SO long haul.
Compare a QF A330 Capt to a CX A330 Capt in HK and include all the CX expat allowances.
Compare a QF 744 Capt to a CX 744 Capt in HK and include all the CX expat allowances and see how it looks then.
The only crew that would be cheaper are the cabin crew.
The major operating cost for QF is not the crew......these same costs are effecting Asian carriers as well.
QF have the wrong fleet, simple.
Once you've done that compare QF to EK as well.