Jet Connect Operations

[Flash Blackman]

Does anyone know what is happening with JC? I know a lot of pilots that went there very recently arent working. Have they put new type ratings on hold or canned them and let the lads go? What's happening with the more senior pilots? Will QF just roll it up or maybe bring it back to be competitive in the trans-Tasman market? Sorry to those who are affected of course etc (which is pretty much all of us).

[crosscutter]

I have no answers but 1 additional question.

Can JC legally resume operations whilst a Mainline 737 pilot remains stood down?

[ElZilcho]

I have a handful of friends at JC who are stood down at home like most other QF group Pilots. I have no idea if courses are still running, but I suspect not. Appreciate Aussie is different to NZ, but as a comparison, the Air NZ Simulators and Training department are shutdown during the lockdown.

Long term, JC has effectively been brought into the fold via VH tails and Aussie licences. As such, QF are no longer paying for a separate AOC and Managers to sit around in New Zealand doing nothing. So I expect, having a bunch of 737 Pilots on a 'B' scale will be of great interest to AJ and his cohorts during the rebound.

As for the legality of returning JC Pilots to work while QF Pilots are stood down I simply can't comment.
Morally, all Pilots flying a QF Aircraft should be on the same contract... but that ship sailed a long time ago.

[KiwiAvi8er]

Since Jetconnect are on the same AOC and fly VH tails are they flying Aus domestic yet? If they are solely trans-tasman then they are going to have a very quiet year.

[Colonel_Klink]

Out of interest, and considering what VA have just done - would QF be considering giving all their JC flying back to mainline to operate?

I know JC are significantly cheaper - but they will have a lot of excess Australian crew sitting around for quite a while.

[Beer Baron]

I have a handful of friends at JC who are stood down at home like most other QF group Pilots.
How is that managed in NZ as I understood that a “stand down” was not a part of NZ labour laws?
Do they ask you to take LWOP and the other option is redundancy?

[Ollie Onion]

^^^ yes, read the stuff article from last week when the Jetconnect cabin crew member states she was told accept LWOP by xx:xx time or be made redundant. I suspect that is how ALL NZ LWOP deals were 'negotiated'.

[Chris2303]

^^^ yes, read the stuff article from last week when the Jetconnect cabin crew member states she was told accept LWOP by xx:xx time or be made redundant. I suspect that is how ALL NZ LWOP deals were 'negotiated'.

That, in itself, is not legal and in ordinary times the ERA would have a field day

[empacher48]

That, in itself, is not legal and in ordinary times the ERA would have a field day

I am pretty sure the powers that be have already signalled that process will begin in time.

I also see Jetconnect received almost $5million for the wage subsidy. So if anyone is made redundant now, those funds have to be repaid, no matter when the positions are made redundant.

I’m assuming Jetstar have done the same.