Merged: Qantas:The Trashing Of A Brand
Blackguard:
My guess is that they are going to get skinned in New York, they take no prisoners over there.
Damage won't be apparent for some time though.
Dixon and his cronies have never had a skill set to run an international airline
Damage won't be apparent for some time though.
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Dixon and his cronies have never had a skill set to run an international airline
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On the ABC lunch time news (this is what you do when you retire!) it was reported that the Aviation Industry in the US is in big trouble. (Most of it anyway) with ageing aircraft, high fuel prices, there is talk of stopping servicing to many destinations, and they expect a loss of thousands of jobs across the board. (well I guess that will fix the Pilot shortage). So why would QF want to get into bed with one of these carriers is any bodies guess, if it goes it will drag QF with it. Surely you would be trying to be nice to Emerites or Etidhad who appear to come with their own oilfields, and who are buying up A/C at a rate of knots. If I were Dixon I would bring his motley mob home from the US and head for the Far East.
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I am actually an Australian retired in Southern California and frequent QF Business Class customer, mostly trans pacific.
Last edited by mister hilter; 18th Jun 2008 at 13:20. Reason: typo
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“Dixon and his cronies have never had a skill set to run an international airline”
“Errrrrrrrr. Hasn't this been apparent from the first day they occupied QCA9?”
Purchase of new aircraft. Opening of new routes. Consistently profitable and as previously stated, one of THE MOST PROFITABLE airlines in the world while Dixon was at the helm.
Popular? Probably not, but business is not about being nice to employees.
“No **** Sherlock? QF don't do too many trans-Atlantic services these days.”
Hitler, I guess I should have been more specific. What I should have said was “mostly trans pacific and occasionally domestic within Australia but rarely from Australia to Asia or beyond to Europe. Why travel to SIN when SQ provides far superior service.
But thanks for pointing out a misunderstanding so critical to the debate at hand. Bravo.
“Errrrrrrrr. Hasn't this been apparent from the first day they occupied QCA9?”
Purchase of new aircraft. Opening of new routes. Consistently profitable and as previously stated, one of THE MOST PROFITABLE airlines in the world while Dixon was at the helm.
Popular? Probably not, but business is not about being nice to employees.
“No **** Sherlock? QF don't do too many trans-Atlantic services these days.”
Hitler, I guess I should have been more specific. What I should have said was “mostly trans pacific and occasionally domestic within Australia but rarely from Australia to Asia or beyond to Europe. Why travel to SIN when SQ provides far superior service.
But thanks for pointing out a misunderstanding so critical to the debate at hand. Bravo.
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Prof...You Forgot
Dixon has been responsible for the creation of enormous executive wealth.
He has also been reponsible for the erosion of quality onboard service.
A failed private equity bid which would have netted him 560Million.
The oldest fleet in the world
A shrinking international network.
A reduction in the Qantas share of Australian international aviation traffic...down from 42% to 31% and falling.
A share price that is now $3.29
A destruction of shareholder value
An outstanding success....pfft!
I think Dixon is a double agent ...he secretly works for Sing Air
His mission is almost complete...Qantas is almost totally screwed.
He has also been reponsible for the erosion of quality onboard service.
A failed private equity bid which would have netted him 560Million.
The oldest fleet in the world
A shrinking international network.
A reduction in the Qantas share of Australian international aviation traffic...down from 42% to 31% and falling.
A share price that is now $3.29
A destruction of shareholder value
An outstanding success....pfft!
I think Dixon is a double agent ...he secretly works for Sing Air
His mission is almost complete...Qantas is almost totally screwed.
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Professor,
You say "business is not about being nice to employees", yet you berate the staff at QF for not being nice to you.
I cannot understand why Dixon and supporters of his, like you, believe the best way to run a service based business is to create an entirely adversarial environment with the staff.
Whether you like it or not human nature is what it is, and if you provide no positive feedback, an atmosphere of intimidation and bullying, and constant negativity about your worth, then you are going to get the bare minimum in return. This is what is now becoming more prevelant at QF.
Personally, I'm amazed it took this long to gather some momentum. I think it's great that the engineers have finally taken Dixon's bullying ways on, and wish them all the best.
Prof, you would be wise to have a look at the Reason model of accident causation and apply it to QF. There are always latent reasons lying behind an outcome you can see. In this case bad attitude from the staff has been created by years of abuse from management, and simply blaming the staff is a shallow and simple outlook.
As far as being CEO of "the most profitable" airline. Have a look at another thread on here listing the waste of QF management. Don't forget that alot of their profitability after 2001 was just plain luck. The collapse of AN 3 days after sept 11 was a massive stroke of good fortune for Dixon. As a matter of fact, the only measure I can see that they deserve any credit for is a very good fuel hedging policy. But praising them for that is like praising me for putting the gear down before landing- that's what they're suppose to do!
You say "business is not about being nice to employees", yet you berate the staff at QF for not being nice to you.
I cannot understand why Dixon and supporters of his, like you, believe the best way to run a service based business is to create an entirely adversarial environment with the staff.
Whether you like it or not human nature is what it is, and if you provide no positive feedback, an atmosphere of intimidation and bullying, and constant negativity about your worth, then you are going to get the bare minimum in return. This is what is now becoming more prevelant at QF.
Personally, I'm amazed it took this long to gather some momentum. I think it's great that the engineers have finally taken Dixon's bullying ways on, and wish them all the best.
Prof, you would be wise to have a look at the Reason model of accident causation and apply it to QF. There are always latent reasons lying behind an outcome you can see. In this case bad attitude from the staff has been created by years of abuse from management, and simply blaming the staff is a shallow and simple outlook.
As far as being CEO of "the most profitable" airline. Have a look at another thread on here listing the waste of QF management. Don't forget that alot of their profitability after 2001 was just plain luck. The collapse of AN 3 days after sept 11 was a massive stroke of good fortune for Dixon. As a matter of fact, the only measure I can see that they deserve any credit for is a very good fuel hedging policy. But praising them for that is like praising me for putting the gear down before landing- that's what they're suppose to do!
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Professor,
The majority of QF employees support the ALAEA and their strong action against QF management. Pilots, Engineers and Cabin crew have witnessed a noticeable degradation in many operational areas of the company since Dixon and his management team have occupied their positions.
Fantastic to see the engineers solidarity and espirit de corps..
QF employees have had enough of the constant negativity, dishonesty and self-interest typical of Qantas's senior management..
Dixon's inability and lack of desire to negotiate with one of his key employee groups highlights his extremely poor management style. The CEO is paid an extraordinary amount of money to sort these type of issues. Presently, his ego driven tactics are costing the customers, the brand and the shareholders... Just about everyone - except Dixon!..The QF Board - by allowing him to act in this way are also being extremely irresponsible..
Employees are not terrorists - they are CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS in the organisation!.. Management involves negotiation and possibly a little bit of GIVE and TAKE!..
The people holding the Qantas operation together right now are those at the coal face all over the world. Their professionalism and invaluable experience is the Qantas Brand - not Dixon and his mates.. It is the employees - the CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS that finally deserve to be heard. As CEO it is Dixon's responsibility to sit down, LISTEN and NEGOTIATE...
The majority of QF employees support the ALAEA and their strong action against QF management. Pilots, Engineers and Cabin crew have witnessed a noticeable degradation in many operational areas of the company since Dixon and his management team have occupied their positions.
Fantastic to see the engineers solidarity and espirit de corps..
QF employees have had enough of the constant negativity, dishonesty and self-interest typical of Qantas's senior management..
Dixon's inability and lack of desire to negotiate with one of his key employee groups highlights his extremely poor management style. The CEO is paid an extraordinary amount of money to sort these type of issues. Presently, his ego driven tactics are costing the customers, the brand and the shareholders... Just about everyone - except Dixon!..The QF Board - by allowing him to act in this way are also being extremely irresponsible..
Employees are not terrorists - they are CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS in the organisation!.. Management involves negotiation and possibly a little bit of GIVE and TAKE!..
The people holding the Qantas operation together right now are those at the coal face all over the world. Their professionalism and invaluable experience is the Qantas Brand - not Dixon and his mates.. It is the employees - the CRITICAL STAKEHOLDERS that finally deserve to be heard. As CEO it is Dixon's responsibility to sit down, LISTEN and NEGOTIATE...
Last edited by Datum; 19th Jun 2008 at 02:41.
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Trashing of a brand.
The "brand" was dead with the take-over of Australian Airlines/TAA by Qantas and the fact that James Strong was CEO of Qantas at the time. The replacement of Qantas management by Australian Airlines management in crucial operational departments and the attitude of James Strong and his "management team" that the level of service provided by Australian Airlines/TAA in all classes on a SYD/MEL service was good enough for a SYD/LAX service was the beginning of the end.
It started with pasta, pizzas and pies in First Class and has ended with the sidewalk cafe cuisine, attitude and indifference of Geoff Dixon's approach to attracting passengers to Qantas.
The meals in economy class are inadequate and the service is not worth discussing because there is none and that is by management design.
It should be recognised that Dixon has been obsessed with the idea that passengers in all classes have been "over serviced" for too long and embarked on a crusade to eliminate the excesses. Too much space wasted in P/C, put the galley in the cabin, reduce the number of toilets in the E/Y cabin and put in more seats and reduce the pitch to 29cm. Not to mention the "battles" cabin crews have keeping J/C passengers out of the P/C loos' during peak periods.
Fuel crisis aside, it is my opinion that the powers that be are intent on destroying QF, not "growing" it. And for ther own benefit.
I would suggest that the time is ripe for all QF Employees to demonstrate for the removal of the entire Qantas board. That does not mean a general strike, it means that all employees not rostered to work on a day to be determined, gather to register their dissatisfaction with current management and its policies.
The share price dives, management bonuses increase.
Rant over.
It started with pasta, pizzas and pies in First Class and has ended with the sidewalk cafe cuisine, attitude and indifference of Geoff Dixon's approach to attracting passengers to Qantas.
The meals in economy class are inadequate and the service is not worth discussing because there is none and that is by management design.
It should be recognised that Dixon has been obsessed with the idea that passengers in all classes have been "over serviced" for too long and embarked on a crusade to eliminate the excesses. Too much space wasted in P/C, put the galley in the cabin, reduce the number of toilets in the E/Y cabin and put in more seats and reduce the pitch to 29cm. Not to mention the "battles" cabin crews have keeping J/C passengers out of the P/C loos' during peak periods.
Fuel crisis aside, it is my opinion that the powers that be are intent on destroying QF, not "growing" it. And for ther own benefit.
I would suggest that the time is ripe for all QF Employees to demonstrate for the removal of the entire Qantas board. That does not mean a general strike, it means that all employees not rostered to work on a day to be determined, gather to register their dissatisfaction with current management and its policies.
The share price dives, management bonuses increase.
Rant over.
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“The collapse of AN 3 days after sept 11 was a massive stroke of good fortune for Dixon.”
The collapse of Ansett was partially the result of some skillfull political manouvering by Dixon and his advisors. Luck played a part but Ansett fell victim to political circumstances that were thoroughly exploited by a cunning Qantas CEO.
“It should be recognised that Dixon has been obsessed with the idea that passengers in all classes have been "over serviced" for too long and embarked on a crusade to eliminate the excesses.”
Most old encumbent airlines have been forced to compromise service levels in an effort to compete in a changing market. Have you flown KLM recently. Even BA is forcing its in flight staff to do more with less and the results show. Companies like EK are staffed by compliant low salaried employees with none of the industrial impediments facing airlines such as QF. The market has an amazing ability to level the playing field over time. Western carriers must change in order to survive.
“A share price that is now $3.29”
All airline share prices are dropping. QF has taken less of a hit to its share price than most other global players.
“Their professionalism and invaluable experience is the Qantas Brand”
As apposed to the employees at other airlines. Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
The collapse of Ansett was partially the result of some skillfull political manouvering by Dixon and his advisors. Luck played a part but Ansett fell victim to political circumstances that were thoroughly exploited by a cunning Qantas CEO.
“It should be recognised that Dixon has been obsessed with the idea that passengers in all classes have been "over serviced" for too long and embarked on a crusade to eliminate the excesses.”
Most old encumbent airlines have been forced to compromise service levels in an effort to compete in a changing market. Have you flown KLM recently. Even BA is forcing its in flight staff to do more with less and the results show. Companies like EK are staffed by compliant low salaried employees with none of the industrial impediments facing airlines such as QF. The market has an amazing ability to level the playing field over time. Western carriers must change in order to survive.
“A share price that is now $3.29”
All airline share prices are dropping. QF has taken less of a hit to its share price than most other global players.
“Their professionalism and invaluable experience is the Qantas Brand”
As apposed to the employees at other airlines. Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
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Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
Professor:
If you had flown QF Internationally before Strong/Dixon took over, you would have known the answer to that question.
Cabin crew engaged with their passengers in a way that those beautiful but essentially weak and compliant Asian girls could never do.
VB in my opinion has a better product now than Qantas.
Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
Cabin crew engaged with their passengers in a way that those beautiful but essentially weak and compliant Asian girls could never do.
VB in my opinion has a better product now than Qantas.
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Professor,
It is apparent that you are aguing a point without the knowledge that exists within the pilot and engineer ranks. You are even in a different discussion.
The majority of the concerns here are to do with the systemic health of a great Aviation Icon. We are concerned that all is not well. We are worried that we can see the "man behind the curtain" as it were.
To take some of your points:
No-one is saying that QF people, and since this is pprune, particularly pilots and engineers are more professional than anyone else. This is not about "we are better than them".
I could fill a book on this one. Summary - Domestic operations have been the focus - International has been the Cinderella. Waiting to see the Longhaul aircraft that have been purchased.
I'm sure there's been one - just can't think of it right now. I can think of all those that have been abandoned either because of wrong aircraft (wait - didn't you say we bought some new ones?) or because the domestic network was considered more important.
Certainly, and I am concerned where those profits have come from and what it means to the long term health of the airline. It may be as you say, but I have the horrible feeling that we are seeing short term returns at the expense of long term viability ... I would love to be wrong here, but it scares me.
We aren't concerned with tough management - hey we work in a tough and unforgiving profession - HOWEVER - we want GOOD management and from what I've seen and learned, it appears we do not.
Time will tell ......
Rgds
N
It is apparent that you are aguing a point without the knowledge that exists within the pilot and engineer ranks. You are even in a different discussion.
The majority of the concerns here are to do with the systemic health of a great Aviation Icon. We are concerned that all is not well. We are worried that we can see the "man behind the curtain" as it were.
To take some of your points:
“Their professionalism and invaluable experience is the Qantas Brand”
As apposed to the employees at other airlines. Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
As apposed to the employees at other airlines. Exactly what “something special” is it that QF staff bring to the business that the staff at competitors cannot.
Purchase of new aircraft.
Opening of new routes.
Consistently profitable and as previously stated, one of THE MOST PROFITABLE airlines in the world while Dixon was at the helm.
Popular? Probably not, but business is not about being nice to employees.
Time will tell ......
Rgds
N
Nunc est bibendum
When I checked out as an the 767 in '97 QF flew out of Australia to Tahiti, Taipei, KL, the occasional Ho Chi Minh and a bunch of different places in Japan. We also few did PNG, PER-BKK, SIN-HKG-BKK, Rome and Paris.
Compare that to now.....on ANY fleet.
Compare that to now.....on ANY fleet.
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Datum
Great post..
Sums up my and many of my colleagues "thoughts" I work with.
This will be the beginning of the end of Dixon , Brown and his other stooges.
Sure, we're the most profitable airline ( blah blah blah)-BUT at what cost.....
"What you sow.......you shall reap !"
FOG
Sums up my and many of my colleagues "thoughts" I work with.
This will be the beginning of the end of Dixon , Brown and his other stooges.
Sure, we're the most profitable airline ( blah blah blah)-BUT at what cost.....
"What you sow.......you shall reap !"
FOG
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737 New Generation
747-400ER
Airbus A330
Boeing 787 on order
Airbus A380 on order.
QF has grown significantly under Dixon and will continue to. Doesnt this significantly benefit the staff? Have pilots not seen upgrades as a result Keg?
747-400ER
Airbus A330
Boeing 787 on order
Airbus A380 on order.
QF has grown significantly under Dixon and will continue to. Doesnt this significantly benefit the staff? Have pilots not seen upgrades as a result Keg?
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Qantas has shrunk under dixon, he created J* in his likeness....
The only thing to have grown is dixons opinion of himself!
(the use of the little d in his name was intention)
The only thing to have grown is dixons opinion of himself!
(the use of the little d in his name was intention)
