Jetstar to close crew bases

[zonker]

Jetstar are to close several crew bases, forcing crews to relocate to Darwin*, relocate to Auckland and take a large pay cut, or face redundancy. The crew positions available in the new bases will be less than the number made redundant, leading to a net fall in crews. This will encourage take-up of the Auckland basing, leading to it's declared "success" at some point in the next few months.

Bases to be closed are Hobart, Avalon and Sydney narrow body (crews on A330 in Sydney will be unaffected).

*Instead of Darwin, Perth has been mentioned as a possible new base.

[AussieNick]

J* was/has been in talks with Darwin Airport in relation to having a base there. Conditional on Darwin Intl upgrading facilities and having more Sky bridges etc etc. this was a early last year, and when I was last home not a whole lot had been done to the airport so it wouldn't surprise me is J* cracked it and are talking to Perth

[NOT WITHSTANDING]

Zonker, Sydney closed?
My mail said 1 extra 320 there, plus Darwin AND Perth as bases.:\

[Zed]

Jetstar Airways Pty Limited ABN 33 069 720 243
11 March 2009
Melbourne (1 page)

Jetstar to expand domestic and international aircraft and crew bases
Australia’s low fares airline Jetstar is to expand its domestic and international aircraft and crew bases to build a platform for its next phase of growth into Asia.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan said the announcement included four new or expanded crew bases, which would allow the airline to continue to maintain its low fares leadership.Mr Buchanan said both the growth and realignment of Jetstar aircraft bases and associated pilot, cabin crew and engineering resources would see existing capacity and frequencies maintained, whilst better supporting the airline’s current flying operations and next growth phase.

Key changes include:

· Closure of Jetstar’s Hobart A320 aircraft and crew base from 1 May 2009, with relocation of thebase’s single over-nighting aircraft to Melbourne Airport;

. Establishment of new A320 pilot bases in Darwin and Perth;

· Extension of Jetstar’s existing Cairns base to include A330 international pilots;

· Extension of Jetstar’s existing South East Queensland base (Gold Coast and Brisbane) to include A330 international pilots and cabin crew; and

· Addition of another A320 aircraft to Sydney.

Mr Buchanan said Jetstar’s continued growth of international long haul operations from the Gold Coast, its existing international long haul flying from Cairns to Japan, and expanding short haul international hub
operations in Darwin and Perth were central to the changes.

“The continued evolution of Jetstar’s flying network, which is building connections between Australia and Asia, and within Asia, is a core driver for these changes,” Mr Buchanan said.

“The high productivity of our crew and aircraft is central to our ability to maintain our low fares leadership. By basing our crew and aircraft around Jetstar’s flying patterns and network growth, we are able to keep our fares low.”

Mr Buchanan said the carrier’s Tasmanian operations remained strategically and operationally important, with its domestic seat capacity levels to remain unchanged for the upcoming schedule period between March-October 2009.

“Our domestic schedule for Tasmania will continue to support 77 weekly return services from 28 March 2009 between Hobart and Launceston direct to the Australian mainland,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Management is now in direct discussion with affected employees and will be providing a range of options including relocation within the business as part of a nationwide pilot and cabin crew program.

“We believe these measures will continue to position Jetstar strongly for the future in view of the current economic conditions and ongoing competitive environment.”

Media enquiries
Simon Westaway General Manager Corporate Relations M: 0401 994 627
Andrea Wait Corporate Communications Adviser M: 0438 090 970

[Thylacine]

ABC Hobart Local News

The 41 pilots and cabin crew based in Hobart have been told they have two months to decide whether to take a voluntary redundancy or move to another base.

Jetstar Spokesman Simon Westaway says the closure is part of several changes around the network to accommodate growth into the Asian market and expansion of bases in Perth, Cairns and Darwin.

Mr Westaway says the company will do everything it can to redeploy all the Hobart crew.

"From a cabin crew perspective it'll be seeking vacancies in other crew bases as we continue to develop our organisation," he said.

"For our small pilot group in Hobart it will mean the choice as part of a broader initiative at the moment underway where we'll be offering new positions at a number of our bases around Australia."

Jetstar says there will be changes to flight schedules in and out of Hobart from the first of May but the total number of flights to the city will not be cut.

[Skybus_319]

Oh, Surprise Surprise. Where next I wonder...? Who on earth would want to live the Darwin Lifestyle, coming from Hobart?? Like changing planets...

After being dumped from the J* Adelaide base, I know how chilling it is to hear this.

If any dumped Hobart crew are reading this, think about coming to Tiger Adelaide(I believe they are hiring now for 2nd Bus). Much better lifestyle, home every night (or morning;)), slightly more pay, great fleet, great people...never been happier:)


Dont let this **** mob stuff you around like they already did to us in Adelaide. Pack of rats they are:suspect:

[Mstr Caution]

.........Or avail yourself to the MOU which allows for applicants from jetstar & or redundancy protection.

Transfer to mainline and grab a preserved seniority number from a few years back. Do a short stint as an A380 SO, see the world then when training picks up snag an FO slot.

[blow.n.gasket]

What's all this secret squirrel business about right hand seat endorsing captains because Jetstar are overstaffed with Capts and understaffed with F/O's at certain bases?
What did the EBA say about hotspot captains again?
Woudn't be the chief pilot protecting "the Ansett mates" would it?:}:eek:

[Capt Claret]

If any dumped Hobart crew are reading this, think about coming to Tiger Adelaide(I believe they are hiring now for 2nd Bus).

I'll bet the most recent ADL inductees, offered Singapore or no job, will be pleased to know there's recruiting going on in ADL.

[Zed]

CNS will lose one A320 to DRW thus also displacing Techies.

This mob will change its mind in six months and do another reshuffle at the expense of crew.

One of the worst companies in AUS to work for. Basic contempt for all coal face crew, from all management positions.

All about cost’s right. More like to cover their mismanagement.

E.G Flew an A320 from DRW to BNE empty because no bookings were taken on that leg 11 tonnes of fuel and crew wages down the drain.

Or over nighting BNE Tech crew in CNS to do CNS base domestic flying and then sending CNS Tech crew on 5 day trips SIN/PER , there for doubling up on overnights. It’s been going on for 4 months.

Just the Tip of the Ice burg unfortunenatly.

[HOBAY 3]

Mr Buchanan said the carrier’s Tasmanian operations remained strategically and operationally important, with its domestic seat capacity levels to remain unchanged for the upcoming schedule period between March-October 2009.

“Our domestic schedule for Tasmania will continue to support 77 weekly return services from 28 March 2009 between Hobart and Launceston direct to the Australian mainland,” Mr Buchanan said.


That's interseting, since their current schedule has only 74 weekly return services (28 x HBA-MEL, 14 x HBA-SYD, 21 x LST-MEL, 7 x LST-SYD and 4 x LST-BNE), so there must be 3 additional services coming from somewhere. The Tasmanian government and Hobart airport have been talking up possible HBA-OOL and HBA-NTL services, so maybe there is something here?

Don't hold your breath for the announcments of the schedule changes. JQ don't even have the correct schedules for March 29 (only 18 days away)! Apparantly there is an aircraft that departs MEL at 6:10, arrives in HBA 10 minutes later at 6:20, then turns around, departs HBA at 6:50, arriving in MEL over two hours later at 9:00! Their second MEL-HBA-MEL flight is also bogus, but the others have the correct timings. There are others anomalies in the network too, such as the ADL-DRW flight that is based in ADL despite the ADL base closing ages ago! Surely any reputible company would have their schedules in order less than 3 weeks in advance! If they know their schedules will change on May 1, then why not put the new schedules in the booking engine instead of stuffing everyone around who have to book on flights that won't exist???

As for the rumor about the Q400 HBA-SYD, my guess is that it won't happen. QF will not take their 737s off HBA-MEL, and these 737s operate a HBA-SYD service during the day as part of that rotation. So if a Q400 service was added, JQ would have to reduce, which they have just said that they are not doing. It would also require a Q400 base in HBA.

[tinpis]

http://www.pprune.org/d-g-general-aviation-questions/365654-50-pilots-wanted-darwin.html

[Thylacine]

Hobay, wouldn't the timings be due to AESDST going back before Tassie? I heard on morning talk back radio that the JetStar early morning departure canned and all the suits up in arms despite there still being QF and VB flights departing around the same time. That would also mean that the last flight of the day at around 2230 out of Melbourne is canned. According to online bookings, seats are still in demand so JQ must feel there are better pickings elsewhere.

[lunars]

what about the offers for the auckland base .if they are closing the Hobart base will the pilots have to move to auckland base and be on the new less pay .Will anyone would do that if you were on J..* mainland to go back and earn less ....????????????

[HOBAY 3]

Same time zones in TAS and VIC all year round Thylacine. Even if they weren't, why do some flights take 0:10 and others on the same day 1:10?

[Clipster]

lunars if i answer this question do you promise not to ask me another.!!!??

none of the jq pilots will be forced to go to auckland as it is a different pay scale and eba. the pilots might be forced to other bases in the jq oz network including chc and they will have the move paid for. might be a darwin stubby renaissance. i regret trying to spell that now knowing ppruners. did i miss an accent?

[Keg]

Same time zones in TAS and VIC all year round Thylacine.

It wasn't so in previous years. I note that they have now gone the same as NSW and ACT. Perhaps J* is just operating on the 'old' info.

Department of Premier and Cabinet - TASMANIA : Daylight saving in Tasmania (http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/divisions/policy/daylightsavings/)

[slim]

Many will recall a similar event around 7 years ago when Dixon and his brown-nose deputy Kumar shafted the Southern LST base by moving them to CBR for a 'long-term committment' then closing the whole show down 6 months later. History is now repeating itself, with JQ being the bunnies this time.

I can only suggest to anyone employed by JQ do not commit yourself in your base to anything you cannot easily walk away from (house, spouse's job etc.) because this is the way the QF group operate, profit will win out before people every time. The disdain shown to staff will be repeated, the only thing that there is a commitment to in QF is management bonuses. :mad:

[Under Dog]

If they paid for your endorsement then maybe they wouldn't stuff you around as much, "Geez this will open a can of worms"


The Dog :=

[TMAK]

Hobay,

there is a early MEL-HBA scheduled 3 days a week...which gives the total of 45 for HBA. I understand this is already operating or planned at least...but could be wrong.

[ditzyboy]

HOBAY 3 -

Your extra 3 frequencies.

JQ 701 MELHBA 0600 0715 M W F
JQ 700 HBAMEL 0745 0900 M W F

[RFN]

Darwin has got to be short-term (2-3 years max). The baby bus is the wrong aeroplane for the flying SE Asia flying.

Jets**** chop n change on the smell of an oily fart...

[KABOY]

RFN,

If you look on the doorstep of Darwin, SE Asia is serviced predominately by narrow body aircraft. ALL the low cost carriers in Asia are using narrow body aircraft exclusively!!!

Time to have a look outside your front door and draw a 1500 nm arc around Darwin, you might be shocked by the number of countries and people there.

[TurbTool]

That will be good news for those who stick it out in Darwin then. Jetstar will pay to move them up there at great expense and then pay to move them back after a couple of years.

It will be a bit like an all expenses paid holiday in the top end.

[Sue Ridgepipe]

ALL the low cost carriers in Asia are using narrow body aircraft exclusively!!!
mmm......I could have sworn I saw an Air Asia X A330 in Melbourne recently, and I believe they have some 340s on order also.

[KABOY]

Those aircraft are operating on long haul out of Asia, not within.

[Keg]

Jetstar will pay to move them up there at great expense and then pay to move them back after a couple of years.

Does Jetstar pay moving costs?

[What The]

Ask the Adelaide base what "costs" were covered.

Ballpark on a Hobart to Darwin move anyone?

[Clipster]

yeah keg they do.

and for direct anywhere , jq do dn to ho chi minh which is 2000nm ish.

and dn to sing which is 1850 ish.


what's the 1500nm reference due to. :confused:

these are current routes they have been doing for months/years

[tasdevil.f27]

Had to laugh this morning, Westerway was being interviewed on local radio as the media are saying Jetstar is pulling out of the state, he was asked if Jetstar would reconsider the axing of the Overnight / early flight out, he said " No, now that we have closed our crew base we cant do overnighting aircraft due to the crews needed" So is it to hard to out a crew up in a hotel like Virgin do at many ports......

Is there something in the EBA that says crews must be at there home port of a night?

[Zed]

Its all about the Five million a year the NT goverment are giving to Jet Star to base crews there by the end of june. Profiting at the expense of crew once again. Pricks

[QFinsider]

Anyone care to guess from what hole Buchanan crawled?

[dodgybrothers]

No but he can go back there! Wonder if the NT have freedom of information that would be able to supply how much this mob were given

[Rabbitwear]

If you all refuse to move then what will happen....

[Ken Borough]

Anyone care to guess from what hole Buchanan crawled?

I don't know if he crawled or walked or if he came from a hole but I believe that he was working for Boston Consulting and found himself attached to the Jetstar start-up team that did all the planning and so on for the establishment of the 'airline'. From there he was employed by Jetstar as, from memory, its number one commercial dude. I recall that he first hit the headlines over news of certain behaviours on a flight over the Pacific.

[QFinsider]

Exactly Ken!
Any suprise the same dreary anti-staff message is replayed over and over again.....

[boocs]

Anyone have info on pilot numbers going to DRW?

[pigdriver]

Just heard from a mate that although J* are saying that this big move or shuffle of the chairs will result in no new jobs, or promotions, why are they offering jobs to new hires to start in Darwin in a month or so as f/o's??? I now of atleast 2 guys who have been offered jobs with Jetstar based in Darwin, and they were asking them to be on course in 4 weeks !!!!!
Is this because they are thinking they wont get enough guys to go up there??!!
Sounds like the management are telling the troops one thing, and doing the opposite!!!!!

[Onefootinthegrave]

Has anyone had the dreaded call to say you have to move yet?:confused:

[Zed]

There has been 15 FO slots vaccant for some time. They will be recruited into Darwin. 25 Capt and 25 FO to go to Darwin all up. Most from CNS, SYD and MEL.

[boocs]

So i assume it's the bottom of the list to go then.... Including Direct Entry Captains?????

[aulglarse]

KEG, the company will only pay for the move if a candidate has not selected DRW( for example)as their first/second bid preference, therefore a forced move to that base courtesy of the company. In some cases, crew have bid for a new base (PER) as their priority and will move at their own cost in due course.

BOOCS, -assuming you're right, interesting to see what happens tomorrow( I think)when candidates should find out their fate.

[Lookleft]

One result of j* "expansion" of its crew bases is to increase the AIPA membership amongst j* pilots. The AFAP have done nothing to stop this. Its not just the A320 crews but the A330 crews as well who will be required to got to Cairns and SEQ. This relocation has nothing to do with the current economic climate and everything to do with some flawed "Pan Asian" strategy. The last person to have a pan asian strategy was Tojo, and it didn't work then either.

[blow.n.gasket]

What's the current deal with the latest letter of preference notice?
Smacks of more reamings to come.:ooh:
This woudn't be a shifty by management to weasel out of moving costs now would it?

[KABOY]

Looks like to the move to Darwin is looking a little more permanent now.

QF will probably delay the orders and continue with narrow bodies out of Darwin for a while yet. The 330's were filling the gap for the 787 but why did they establish a Darwin base, well it seems clear now.



PS. I will correct my radius from Darwin to 2000nm now that somebody has shown me great circle mapper!:ok:

[Onefootinthegrave]

This is going to be a costly exercise for those that commute,or indeed move.On many levels.No doubt some will be considering if to grieve or not.At the very least it will give you some breathing time as the status quo must remain the same whilst the process is grieved.:(