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B A Lert
4th Jul 2006, 23:26
The following is from todays Sydney Morning Herald. It begs the question as to the role Jetstar Asia is really going to play in Qantas survival. Tens of millions of dollars have been poured (squandered??) into this outfit for zero return yet its largest shareholder is climbing into bed with one of its competitors. Admittedly Jet Airways has a much better route network from Singapore to India but WTF is going on? Why doesn't Jetstar Asia build its Indian route so that at least the revenue largely stays within the Qantas empire?

Is it time for an overhaul in some of the back-rooms of Qantas?




Qantas seeks carrier alliance for India


Scott Rochfort
July 5, 2006

QANTAS has attempted to shore up its fledgling services to Mumbai by applying for a code-sharing agreement with Indian carrier Jet Airways.

Two years after Qantas launched three direct weekly services from Sydney to Mumbai, the national carrier has applied to the International Air Services Commission to code-share services with Jet Airways to Mumbai, New Delhi and Chennai from Singapore.

Conversely, India's largest publicly listed airline will code-share with Qantas on flights from Singapore to all of Australia's capital cities.

Despite talk Qantas could use the deal to cancel its Indian services - similar to how it used its code-share with Air France to cover its retreat from Paris two years ago - the airline's head of sales and marketing, Rob Gurney, said the deal was aimed at expanding Qantas's coverage to Indian cities it did not fly to.

"It's an important market to Qantas and it's part of our plans to expand our presence in India," he said.

The managing director of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Peter Harbison, said the main reason for the code-share application was the tough competition Qantas faced from Singapore Airlines into India.

"Singapore [Air] was killing them," Mr Harbison said. Compared with Qantas's three services into Mumbai a week, Singapore Air operates 56 services a week into 10 Indian cities.

Mr Harbison said it was feasible Qantas could eventually fly daily into Mumbai and eventually to Europe via India.

The deal will also allow Jet Airways to expand its long-haul route network coverage, which only includes Singapore and London.

Jet Airways declined to comment to the Herald on whether the deal could scuttle its plans to launch direct services to Australia.

Jet Airways has come under intense pressure since its plan to take over India's Air Sahara fell through last month. Its share price has halved in the past six months.

Singapore Air spokesman Stephen Forshaw said it was "no great surprise to see Qantas seek to expand their presence by code-sharing with an Indian airline".

"Of course, this relies on the very liberal access arrangement Qantas has through Singapore - one they still oppose giving to overseas carriers to Australia, and the effect of which is to deny consumers competition and choice on routes to the USA," he said, referring to the Federal Government's recent decision to block Singapore Air from competing on the Qantas-dominated Sydney to Los Angeles route.

Meanwhile, Emirates welcomed comments by Federal Treasurer Peter Costello that the Middle Eastern carrier should be granted greater access into Australia. Emirates wants to double its flights into Australia to 98 by 2014.

"The Treasurer is arguing on behalf of the Australian traveller and exporter as well as in Australia's national interest, and we applaud his remarks," an Emirates spokesman said.

It is understood Emirates has fared better than Singapore Air in persuading some Federal MPs that it poses no major threat to Qantas, given most of its passengers would not originate from Qantas's key destinations of London or Frankfurt.

hoss
5th Jul 2006, 06:12
Mate yes, the best way to overhaul 'those backrooms in Qantas' would be to start with a baseball bat after a few minutes introduce the blow torch and leave with a bang, dynamite comes to mind.

:mad:

Taildragger67
5th Jul 2006, 13:19
Well, Qantas have an 'in' with Jet's senior management given their EVP Flt OPs & Eng.

Eagleman
5th Jul 2006, 23:09
Is that EVP the guy who presided over the collapse of standards in QF Flight Operations?

Jetsbest
5th Jul 2006, 23:21
Eagle, possibly... depending on your perspective.

I've heard that;

-R.H. was formerly QF's chief pilot (twice removed from present office-holder) who, after 'retirement', spent some time as a simulator instructor in Korea before the present EVP job at JET Airways, and

-Aust links, notably B.D. a former QF recruiting manager, are being used to set up a pilot training scheme to help address JET's predicted pilot shortfall, and

- evidently those same 'associations' open doors for potential codeshare arrangements?

max autobrakes
8th Jul 2006, 09:20
Who said nepotism and the old "lodge" handshake was dead in Qantas ? :}