Ironically it was 1 April. Singapore replaced by a dubious partnership with Emirates.
- End of a well established European gateway.
- Qantas lost over 350,000 passengers in the first year of operations.
- EK made three times as many passengers.
- No upside in Operating Revenue- did they actually make anything?
Whilst they grew JQ, convinced of lower labour cost being the only thing that matters, the whole industry moved on without them
- TWO B787
- Return to Singapore, an advance to the rear if ever there was one.
There is precedent, Jetstar Pacific, Jetstar Asia(s) "400 aircraft by 2020", Air Asia X joint venture (forgetting to tell Tony Fernandes), RedQ, Jetstar HKG, Jetstar Japan. None of those ships have really come in. There have been so many announcements & ventures that are going to be the "next greatest thing" anydaynow.
IFF the aircraft rolled off the production line 1.5 tonnes lighter, that is not
good management, that is luck.
Just as Mr Joyce claims credit for the 'turnaround' any cursory analysis of the profit and loss shows:
By writing off $2.56 billion in the value of the fleet last year, Qantas' bottom line this year looks much better, with a more modest depreciation charge of $1.1 billion. This accounting stroke of a pen has improved Qantas' fiscal performance by $326 million.
And, thanks to Saudi Arabia's King Salman, fuel prices have plunged – improving, with its fuel efficiency drive, Qantas' ledger sheet by $597 million.
With all other expenses largely unchanged, it seems this year's stunning "accelerated transformation" is little more than dumb luck and an accounting exercise.
My sources tell me that the aircraft will likely suffer weather events upon arrival,
of sufficient frequency that if not limited by reason of carriage of fuel, will necessitate a rather expeditious diversion to an alternate port as the crew hit hard limits.
Of course regulatory capture and a spent labour representative body may well do the bidding to CASA to extend it beyond a hard 20 hour TOD.
I for one wish it to succeed, but it appears to be a highly complex plan that involves just more than one challenging sector. Everything has to go just right every day to get this right
There is substantial execution risk, a year of consistent operation in all seasons, ought see whether those questioning this route and aircraft are right or wrong.