MERGED: Alan's still not happy......
From today's SMH
And which aircraft might that be Mr Thompson? A wide-body twin...777 or 787 perhaps?
What a muppet. Has he even had a good look at the fleet lately (or lack of it?)
Qantas has cancelled three return A380 flights next month between its new overseas hub in Dubai and London due to weak demand ahead of the peak travel season in the northern hemisphere.
The temporary reduction in services follows its decision to cancel three return superjumbo flights from Melbourne to London via Dubai in February and March, citing a slowdown in demand during the northern winter.
Fares for flights to Europe remain at historical lows in real terms due to stiff competition between airlines.
Qantas began flying via Dubai to Europe – instead of via Singapore – in March last year when it launched its extensive alliance with Middle Eastern airline Emirates.
As part of the latest changes, Qantas has cancelled the QF10 service from London's Heathrow Airport to Dubai on May 12, 19 and 28, as well as the QF1 flight from Dubai to the UK capital on May 13, 20 and 29.
Passengers with existing bookings on QF1 and QF10 on those dates will be put onto the other daily Qantas flight between the two cities, or onto Emirates services if required.
Qantas' head of international sales, Stephen Thompson, said it was common for airlines to reduce the number of flights on some routes during quieter parts of the year.
''What the market will notice is Qantas International becoming more commercially nimble, which is a reflection of the ultra-competitive environment we're in,'' he said.
Mr Thompson said Qantas would be using larger, or smaller aircraft, on routes in response to demand.
Daily double
Some observers have questioned whether Qantas will maintain double daily flights between Dubai and London in the longer term because many passengers catch connecting Emirates services to continental Europe.
But Qantas said it remained committed to maintaining its two daily services to London.
Qantas will also slightly reduce its flying on the Sydney-Johannesburg and Sydney-Shangahi routes next May due to weak demand.
A travel agent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said demand for flights to Europe had been poor across the market, resulting in the lowest fares he had seen in his 30 years in the business.
''The airlines are trying to drive activity but it is very challenging,'' he said.
''In May you are heading into the high season [for travel to Europe]. I don't think this is just Qantas – you are seeing it across the board.''
European bypass
Competition on routes between Australia and Europe has been intense, and will claim another scalp next month when Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic stops flying to Sydney. Its permanent departure will leave British Airways as the last European airline to fly to Australia.
Travel group Flight Centre said headline return fares for off-peak travel to Europe were priced at between $1500 and $1600, which was virtually unchanged on last year.
The travel company said the cost of tickets had fallen significantly over the last decade in real terms.
A return ticket to London in April is selling for $1599, compared with $1539 a decade ago, despite inflation of about 2.8 per cent per annum over the period.
A Flight Centre spokesman said May was typically ''starting to get into the busy'' period for travel to Europe, ahead of the peak summer months of July and August.
Qantas has declined to give an insight into the financial performance of the Emirates alliance.
When the deal was announced in 2012, analysts had estimated that the value to Qantas of a code-share alliance with Emirates at as much as $90 million a year in pre-tax earnings.
The latest government statistics show Qantas filled almost 88 per cent of the seats on flights between London and Australia in January.
Last May, the airline filled almost 64 per cent of the seats on flights from London to Australia via Dubai, while on the outbound leg it had almost 86 per cent of seats occupied.
The statistics do not reveal what Qantas charged for the flights.
Read more: Qantas cuts back London flights
The temporary reduction in services follows its decision to cancel three return superjumbo flights from Melbourne to London via Dubai in February and March, citing a slowdown in demand during the northern winter.
Fares for flights to Europe remain at historical lows in real terms due to stiff competition between airlines.
Qantas began flying via Dubai to Europe – instead of via Singapore – in March last year when it launched its extensive alliance with Middle Eastern airline Emirates.
As part of the latest changes, Qantas has cancelled the QF10 service from London's Heathrow Airport to Dubai on May 12, 19 and 28, as well as the QF1 flight from Dubai to the UK capital on May 13, 20 and 29.
Passengers with existing bookings on QF1 and QF10 on those dates will be put onto the other daily Qantas flight between the two cities, or onto Emirates services if required.
Qantas' head of international sales, Stephen Thompson, said it was common for airlines to reduce the number of flights on some routes during quieter parts of the year.
''What the market will notice is Qantas International becoming more commercially nimble, which is a reflection of the ultra-competitive environment we're in,'' he said.
Mr Thompson said Qantas would be using larger, or smaller aircraft, on routes in response to demand.
Daily double
Some observers have questioned whether Qantas will maintain double daily flights between Dubai and London in the longer term because many passengers catch connecting Emirates services to continental Europe.
But Qantas said it remained committed to maintaining its two daily services to London.
Qantas will also slightly reduce its flying on the Sydney-Johannesburg and Sydney-Shangahi routes next May due to weak demand.
A travel agent, who wanted to remain anonymous, said demand for flights to Europe had been poor across the market, resulting in the lowest fares he had seen in his 30 years in the business.
''The airlines are trying to drive activity but it is very challenging,'' he said.
''In May you are heading into the high season [for travel to Europe]. I don't think this is just Qantas – you are seeing it across the board.''
European bypass
Competition on routes between Australia and Europe has been intense, and will claim another scalp next month when Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic stops flying to Sydney. Its permanent departure will leave British Airways as the last European airline to fly to Australia.
Travel group Flight Centre said headline return fares for off-peak travel to Europe were priced at between $1500 and $1600, which was virtually unchanged on last year.
The travel company said the cost of tickets had fallen significantly over the last decade in real terms.
A return ticket to London in April is selling for $1599, compared with $1539 a decade ago, despite inflation of about 2.8 per cent per annum over the period.
A Flight Centre spokesman said May was typically ''starting to get into the busy'' period for travel to Europe, ahead of the peak summer months of July and August.
Qantas has declined to give an insight into the financial performance of the Emirates alliance.
When the deal was announced in 2012, analysts had estimated that the value to Qantas of a code-share alliance with Emirates at as much as $90 million a year in pre-tax earnings.
The latest government statistics show Qantas filled almost 88 per cent of the seats on flights between London and Australia in January.
Last May, the airline filled almost 64 per cent of the seats on flights from London to Australia via Dubai, while on the outbound leg it had almost 86 per cent of seats occupied.
The statistics do not reveal what Qantas charged for the flights.
Read more: Qantas cuts back London flights
What a muppet. Has he even had a good look at the fleet lately (or lack of it?)
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They are opportunists , they buy the stock to make things look promising, as the momentum picks up and people start following like sheep they start selling their holdings making millions without having to run the airline.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Land of egos
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This release confirms that QF has lost the plot - the alleged flag-ship route, via DBX, under performing (recent company announcements for the anniversary of EQ tie up said if was performing great guns)
and company (executive) comments that QF has other fleet options, WTF....!!!
and company (executive) comments that QF has other fleet options, WTF....!!!
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,188
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
QF cancels some of its London services due low demand?
Is it anything to do with EK increasing capacity to London Gatwick by 36% from the end of March 2014.
How's the alliance working for you AJ?
Emirates To Operate A380 On London Gatwick Route » Gulf Business
Is it anything to do with EK increasing capacity to London Gatwick by 36% from the end of March 2014.
How's the alliance working for you AJ?
Emirates To Operate A380 On London Gatwick Route » Gulf Business
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Adrift upon the tides of fate
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also coincides with Qatar increasing capacity out of Melbourne by 76 seats a day by using a larger "old technology" aircraft. Yeah, real weak demand.
Also coincides with Qatar increasing capacity out of Melbourne by 76 seats a day by using a larger "old technology" aircraft. Yeah, real weak demand.
Ken Borough:
You can stick that comment where the sun don't shine Ken, it's special pleading.
Every other sector of the Australian economy is told, exhorted, cajoled and whipped with the "world competitive" cat of Nine tails by every State and the Federal Government and you say "but Qantas should be treated differently????" Are you for real????? You hypocrit!
Of course even Qantas itself talks about "world competitive" when it suits them. Like when they are shipping their engineering offshore and employing cut rate New Zealand and Asian staff. "we have to be world competitive you know!"
Look at our farmers, miners and now our manufacturers. They have world prices rammed down their throats every day of the week, but somehow Qantas wants to be allowed to charge a premium for being "Australian"????
To put that another way, Qantas has bled the Australian travelling public dry for Forty years by taking advantage of geography and regulated markets.
Toughen up, Princess, or dry up and blow away and leave us in peace. You and your holier than thou attitudes make me sick. As far as I am concerned Qantas can retreat to Sydney and curl up and die of AIDS (acquired irrelevance disease syndrome). The more foreign carriers offering direct flights out of capitall cities other than Sydney, the better I like it.
Off to NZ at easter and it won't be on QF, I didn't even bother to look at their website. Ill plan my trip to Europe after that, and it will most probably start with a direct flight to Singapore - anything but Qantas.
They may be increasing their capacity but are they filling it and, if so, how? I suggest that they are cutting fares and diluting revenue. Herein is one of Qantas' major problems: the Australian Govt has allowed foreign carriers almost unfettered access to the Australian market with a detrimental impact on Australian carriers. Like, how many Australians want to travel to the UAE, and how many UAE residents visit Australia to spend their hard (?) earned? Is anyone able to demonstrate what these carriers really do for Australia?
Every other sector of the Australian economy is told, exhorted, cajoled and whipped with the "world competitive" cat of Nine tails by every State and the Federal Government and you say "but Qantas should be treated differently????" Are you for real????? You hypocrit!
Of course even Qantas itself talks about "world competitive" when it suits them. Like when they are shipping their engineering offshore and employing cut rate New Zealand and Asian staff. "we have to be world competitive you know!"
Look at our farmers, miners and now our manufacturers. They have world prices rammed down their throats every day of the week, but somehow Qantas wants to be allowed to charge a premium for being "Australian"????
To put that another way, Qantas has bled the Australian travelling public dry for Forty years by taking advantage of geography and regulated markets.
Toughen up, Princess, or dry up and blow away and leave us in peace. You and your holier than thou attitudes make me sick. As far as I am concerned Qantas can retreat to Sydney and curl up and die of AIDS (acquired irrelevance disease syndrome). The more foreign carriers offering direct flights out of capitall cities other than Sydney, the better I like it.
Off to NZ at easter and it won't be on QF, I didn't even bother to look at their website. Ill plan my trip to Europe after that, and it will most probably start with a direct flight to Singapore - anything but Qantas.
Hey, Sunfish! Why don't you tell us what you really think? And by the sound of things, something's happened to you that's attributable to Qantas.
What a shame you write as you do as you seem to be such a happy soul. Personal abuse in which you indulge reflects more on you than me: attack my POV by all means but don't get personal as that line of attack weakens your argument and demeans you.
.
What a shame you write as you do as you seem to be such a happy soul. Personal abuse in which you indulge reflects more on you than me: attack my POV by all means but don't get personal as that line of attack weakens your argument and demeans you.
.
thanks for your Ad Hominem Ken, but the fact remains that ALL of Australias economy ( including Qantas) has to be world competitive and if Qantas is not profitable at going rates then it deserves to go under.
Wanaka? yes.
Wanaka? yes.
Anytime time Sunfish but you did invite a riposte as a result of your personal attack. It's not nice is it? Best is to always play fair before the Match Review Panel intervenes. 
Gosh Ken, you were trolling and I didn't realize....
Next you are going to propose that all airfares out of Australia are to be regulated by Government to ensure they are "fair" to Qantas, right?
The fact is Ken that no one knows if Qantas are just making up numbers or pulling them out of Alans arse.
. and what would Qantas do if it was allowed to make a "modest" return? Shove the money down some Chinese rabbit hole?
Sink or swim, I say.
Next you are going to propose that all airfares out of Australia are to be regulated by Government to ensure they are "fair" to Qantas, right?
The fact is Ken that no one knows if Qantas are just making up numbers or pulling them out of Alans arse.
. and what would Qantas do if it was allowed to make a "modest" return? Shove the money down some Chinese rabbit hole?
Sink or swim, I say.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Winding Down......
What is well and truly underway is corporate chemotherapy. The icon is being brought to its knees, poisoned if you will, to ultimately save and cleanse itself of 'legacy'. If your lucky, or unlucky enough (depending on how you look at it), to be identified as a keeper cell, then be prepared to lube up before work each and every day for the rest of your career.
That's the best one can hope for, because if a takeover blows through, it will be off to the wreckers for all and sundry, stripped bare and resigned to history.......Ah, the way of the world.....
That's the best one can hope for, because if a takeover blows through, it will be off to the wreckers for all and sundry, stripped bare and resigned to history.......Ah, the way of the world.....
Last edited by Acute Instinct; 9th Apr 2014 at 10:35.
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Adrift upon the tides of fate
Posts: 1,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
are they filling it and, if so, how? I suggest that they are cutting fares and diluting revenue. Herein is one of Qantas' major problems:
- because QF were the cheapest. I'd suggest it has more to do with QR flying the right aircraft (amongst other things. Not all of which are under QF managment control, but many of them are)- not that QF would care.....old technology and all that.
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: London-Thailand-Australia
Age: 15
Posts: 1,057
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, here we are, the thread's just hit 900,000, Sunfish is off to New Zealand, still won't fly Qantas "Sink or swim," and Ken is winding up the spring for his next post.
Now, if we could convert all this energy into avgas then I guess Alan would be happy again and this thread won't hit 1,000,000.. Somehow, I think it will surpass all expectations making 1,000,000 hits look like a small figure going by Elaine's current form.
Meanwhile, QF cancels some of its London services due low demand which I think is another first for Elaine and his team, which says to me Acute Instinct has a good point with
I share the same view as AI and will do all I can to support the operational staff at Qantas Int who have done nothing wrong and don't deserve what has been served out by the current board & management who incidentally traded for many years under the theme of "I still call Australia home." When this current lot changed that to "You're the reason we fly" straight after they grounded the airline became the reason why I became even more determined to do something.
For the record, I was a big supporter of Ansett before it went under, was furious about the way the whole thing was handled and did all I could at that time to stop it. In those days social media was a pup so there was not much anyone could do to get the message out to the masses, all I could do was what a lot of my friends did, wrote to MP's, newspapers etc in the end to no avail as we all know.
Sunfish, I saw many Ansett friends lose their jobs first hand, as you did, I felt their pain, still do sometimes, but I never disliked the Qantas operational staff, they always served me well for more than 40 years, it's the Q management style that has got up my nose since the Dixon/Joyce combo years but still by current world standards Qantas is a great airline. As I see it, Elaine & his team are all about themselves and have completely lost sight of what Qantas stands for in this country, done their level best to chase away loyal customers by making poor business decisions in their quest to manage what became a fused two brand LCC model which has consumed any logic they may have started out with.
So what do they do? Blame everything on market conditions or someone else for the bad decisions they have made themselves all along, the writing is on the wall now for everyone to see.
As another day goes by I believe more and more people are becoming aware of the management problems at Qantas. You only have to google Qantas news stories over the last twelve months to see this for yourself, the press have turned on Elaine and his crew. Sure the odd puff story gets through the net, normally by the usual suspects, but even they are much less frequent than they used to be, the words out.
Sunfish, I think I am pretty safe in saying, no one (that I know anyway) at Qantas on the operational side of the business were happy about what happened at Ansett, just like me and everyone else at the time, were helpless to do anything about it.
Having said that, Sunfish, you are a great contributor to this thread and pprune in general, most of what you write is great stuff and on the money, which I thank you for, you have a wonderful grasp of Australia's aviation industry, which inspired the video below (not mine) from one of your recent posts, testimony that there are more people out there who also care about the current situation at Qantas.
.
.
Now, if we could convert all this energy into avgas then I guess Alan would be happy again and this thread won't hit 1,000,000.. Somehow, I think it will surpass all expectations making 1,000,000 hits look like a small figure going by Elaine's current form.
Meanwhile, QF cancels some of its London services due low demand which I think is another first for Elaine and his team, which says to me Acute Instinct has a good point with
What is well and truly underway is corporate chemotherapy. The icon is being brought to its knees, poisoned if you will, to ultimately save and cleanse itself of 'legacy'
For the record, I was a big supporter of Ansett before it went under, was furious about the way the whole thing was handled and did all I could at that time to stop it. In those days social media was a pup so there was not much anyone could do to get the message out to the masses, all I could do was what a lot of my friends did, wrote to MP's, newspapers etc in the end to no avail as we all know.
Sunfish, I saw many Ansett friends lose their jobs first hand, as you did, I felt their pain, still do sometimes, but I never disliked the Qantas operational staff, they always served me well for more than 40 years, it's the Q management style that has got up my nose since the Dixon/Joyce combo years but still by current world standards Qantas is a great airline. As I see it, Elaine & his team are all about themselves and have completely lost sight of what Qantas stands for in this country, done their level best to chase away loyal customers by making poor business decisions in their quest to manage what became a fused two brand LCC model which has consumed any logic they may have started out with.
So what do they do? Blame everything on market conditions or someone else for the bad decisions they have made themselves all along, the writing is on the wall now for everyone to see.
As another day goes by I believe more and more people are becoming aware of the management problems at Qantas. You only have to google Qantas news stories over the last twelve months to see this for yourself, the press have turned on Elaine and his crew. Sure the odd puff story gets through the net, normally by the usual suspects, but even they are much less frequent than they used to be, the words out.
Sunfish, I think I am pretty safe in saying, no one (that I know anyway) at Qantas on the operational side of the business were happy about what happened at Ansett, just like me and everyone else at the time, were helpless to do anything about it.
Having said that, Sunfish, you are a great contributor to this thread and pprune in general, most of what you write is great stuff and on the money, which I thank you for, you have a wonderful grasp of Australia's aviation industry, which inspired the video below (not mine) from one of your recent posts, testimony that there are more people out there who also care about the current situation at Qantas.
.
.
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Sandpit
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sunfish,
What's going on? I look out for your posts, but prefer it when you stick to forecasts and predictions. They've worked so well in the past.
Come back to us Old Sunny.
What's going on? I look out for your posts, but prefer it when you stick to forecasts and predictions. They've worked so well in the past.
Come back to us Old Sunny.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
International carriers have increased their ASKs to Aus but they are not even keeping up with the increase in demand. Figures were all laid out in our Senate submission.