In keeping with fact, let us examine the numbers closely.
- Alan Joyce started as CEO Qantas 28 November 2008.
- Qantas for the FY2008 carried 458,182 passengers to the UK.
- Qantas carried FY2016 carried 281,365 passengers to the UK.
In 2008, Qantas went to London via Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. Having sacrificed these proven routes, servicing the domestic and international network with 188 aircraft, Alan and Leigh killed 36% of QF passengers flying to the UK, not bad work in eight short years. Did they not notice the NEGATIVE sign?
Is Alan and the sparsely 'aviation experienced' board prone to making hap hazard decisions? Is Dubai another
- JQ HK,
- An AOC split that didn't happen,
- An airline needing a $3billion bailout in 2013, then not six weeks later?
- Red Q
- An airline in 'terminal' decline
- A 'transformed' Qantas international?
- A game changer aircraft? (the 787) with hull numbers in the six hundreds? (Any games changed by the aircraft have been changed for other airlines!)
Given there are big questions and zero statements outlining any tangible evidence of any benefit from the EK 'alliance' Does Qantas see a single dollar out of the 'partnership?'
In the same period the 'empire' threw 80 odd aircraft at JQ, growing it from 36 aircraft. They cut 80 odd from Qantas.The 'famous Asian pivot strategy' has worked a treat, swapping JQ for Qantas and giving customers a choice; change airline!....The Asian 'pivot' applauded by Colonel Custer as he purveyed the coming battle, worked out as well as Little Big horn and generated benefits.....for other airlines
Since the EK 'partnership' bestowed unexplained and unqualified benefits on QF shareholders starting on April fool's day 2013, how did the competitors do?:
- SIA grew passenger numbers by5.1% via Singapore,
- Cathay grew passenger numbers 36% via Hong Kong
- Thai lost a bit of market share* via Bangkok
* Hard to tell whether the downgrading of Thailand by the FAA or the instability of the government is the factor. This year's numbers will be interesting.
Given the little fella's inability to state any tangible commercial benefit from an 'Alliance' and passengers sticking to the tried and trusted Asian routes, perhaps QF may be grateful that the 'partnership' providing so much was only five years long.....
Is that why having finally got a new aircraft and Alan being stopped from any more (costly for the QF shareholder) dalliances in Asia, Qantas is desperately trying to spin an 18 hour Y class nightmare on a 787 as a viable alternative to going to Dubai? Just what did the hastily signed deal contain? Asia seems to be a great alternative, something Joyce screamed long and hard was part of the past. Passengers suggest otherwise.
Isn't it about time that fuel price falls and fleet impairment(depreciation reduction) weren't the only sources of tangible return?