lowerlobe
11th Mar 2007, 22:37
Qantas 'plans move offshore'
QANTAS may be preparing to shift key parts of its maintenance operations to Asia - even before the proposed $11 billion takeover by Airline Partners Australia goes through.
A submission by the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association to a Senate committee examining the proposed takeover warns that Qantas is already considering a maintenance shift offshore.
Qantas was unavailable for comment last night.
The association's members are responsible for maintaining Qantas' unrivalled safety record, but have alerted the committee to recent internal Qantas ads offering relocation and jobs in Asia. ??"We consider that the likelihood of Qantas accepting this option (regarding offshore maintenance) is high," the submission states. ??"Today information was received . . . that Qantas has started advertising internally for engineers and aircraft planners (who plan aircraft maintenance work) to move to Asia. ??"The advert includes: 'The Qantas Group is expanding and exploring new growth options and this means an exciting opportunity for staff to work for us in Asia!' " ??The engineers' association warns that moving maintenance operations offshore risks "compromising the safety of the Qantas fleet". ??Family First senator Steve Fielding said he was still determined to push for changes to the Qantas Sale Act, to keep Qantas Australian. ??He says the act does not include Jetstar, and wants the Senate committee to examine the sale and the proposed new owners' assurances. ??Last week Treasurer Peter Costello said a special legal deal had been agreed between the Government and the Macquarie Bank takeover consortium to guard against key parts of the airline being sold off.
This includes commitments designed to maintain the Australian character of Qantas, honour the airline's frequent flyer program, and ensure that it retained the bulk of its 40,000-strong workforce onshore.
Mr Costello said the commonwealth would insist that the deed of undertaking be observed. ??"The penalties for any breach of this deed will be that the Government can get legal injunctions against Qantas to enforce the deed," he said. ??"This deed of undertaking is probably the most extensive that I have ever seen from an Australian company."
But he conceded the Government's capacity to influence future decisions by the Qantas management could be hampered by market conditions. ??Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said Mr Costello had "jumped the gun" in waving through the deal to shareholders last week and said the association had written to him with their concerns.
QANTAS may be preparing to shift key parts of its maintenance operations to Asia - even before the proposed $11 billion takeover by Airline Partners Australia goes through.
A submission by the Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association to a Senate committee examining the proposed takeover warns that Qantas is already considering a maintenance shift offshore.
Qantas was unavailable for comment last night.
The association's members are responsible for maintaining Qantas' unrivalled safety record, but have alerted the committee to recent internal Qantas ads offering relocation and jobs in Asia. ??"We consider that the likelihood of Qantas accepting this option (regarding offshore maintenance) is high," the submission states. ??"Today information was received . . . that Qantas has started advertising internally for engineers and aircraft planners (who plan aircraft maintenance work) to move to Asia. ??"The advert includes: 'The Qantas Group is expanding and exploring new growth options and this means an exciting opportunity for staff to work for us in Asia!' " ??The engineers' association warns that moving maintenance operations offshore risks "compromising the safety of the Qantas fleet". ??Family First senator Steve Fielding said he was still determined to push for changes to the Qantas Sale Act, to keep Qantas Australian. ??He says the act does not include Jetstar, and wants the Senate committee to examine the sale and the proposed new owners' assurances. ??Last week Treasurer Peter Costello said a special legal deal had been agreed between the Government and the Macquarie Bank takeover consortium to guard against key parts of the airline being sold off.
This includes commitments designed to maintain the Australian character of Qantas, honour the airline's frequent flyer program, and ensure that it retained the bulk of its 40,000-strong workforce onshore.
Mr Costello said the commonwealth would insist that the deed of undertaking be observed. ??"The penalties for any breach of this deed will be that the Government can get legal injunctions against Qantas to enforce the deed," he said. ??"This deed of undertaking is probably the most extensive that I have ever seen from an Australian company."
But he conceded the Government's capacity to influence future decisions by the Qantas management could be hampered by market conditions. ??Association federal secretary Steve Purvinas said Mr Costello had "jumped the gun" in waving through the deal to shareholders last week and said the association had written to him with their concerns.