Qantas De-Crewing
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Qantas De-Crewing
QANTAS will cut the number of cabin crew on its flagship A380 aircraft even though unions have raised fears about an ''inferior service'' due to a heavier workload for staff.
The airline plans to cut flight attendants on the double-decker aircraft from 22 to 21 late next month. The announcement comes a week after Qantas cut cabin crew on its A330-300 aircraft from 10 to nine.
The international flight attendants' union says the cuts are likely to increase stress among cabin crew faced with ''already challenging service requirements''. The cuts raised ''potential safety implications'' and could lead to an ''inferior service on board'', it said.
The A380 is the centrepiece of the Qantas fleet. The airline recently said it was ''so successful it is effectively a destination in its own right''.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia said ''a desire to obtain cost savings in the face of a difficult international flying environment'' was the main reason for reducing staff on the aircraft, which fly international routes. The union has been arguing against the cuts for months.
A380s are seen as giving Qantas an advantage in the lucrative business travel market on routes to Los Angeles and London. Singapore Airlines has cabin crews of 23 on each of its A380s.
A Qantas spokesman said the changes were ''above or in line'' with Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements and had been ''planned so they will not impact our high in-flight customer service''.
Qantas cut the number of cabin crew on its 747 jumbos about four years ago from 16 to 15. About a year afterwards it returned some services to destinations such as South Africa to their former staffing levels.
The airline plans to cut flight attendants on the double-decker aircraft from 22 to 21 late next month. The announcement comes a week after Qantas cut cabin crew on its A330-300 aircraft from 10 to nine.
The international flight attendants' union says the cuts are likely to increase stress among cabin crew faced with ''already challenging service requirements''. The cuts raised ''potential safety implications'' and could lead to an ''inferior service on board'', it said.
The A380 is the centrepiece of the Qantas fleet. The airline recently said it was ''so successful it is effectively a destination in its own right''.
The Flight Attendants Association of Australia said ''a desire to obtain cost savings in the face of a difficult international flying environment'' was the main reason for reducing staff on the aircraft, which fly international routes. The union has been arguing against the cuts for months.
A380s are seen as giving Qantas an advantage in the lucrative business travel market on routes to Los Angeles and London. Singapore Airlines has cabin crews of 23 on each of its A380s.
A Qantas spokesman said the changes were ''above or in line'' with Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements and had been ''planned so they will not impact our high in-flight customer service''.
Qantas cut the number of cabin crew on its 747 jumbos about four years ago from 16 to 15. About a year afterwards it returned some services to destinations such as South Africa to their former staffing levels.
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Pemium Cabin
Dont know about the A380 but the A330 has had the crew member removed from J/C
Removing the crew member from the cabin where your high yield passnegers sit doesnt seem too smart if you want to be the worlds best airline.
Its one thing to have an aspiration but quite another to spend the money to achieve it.
Qantas does not ,has not spent money on their airborne product for about 10 years.(Apart from the shiny new A380)
It shows
Removing the crew member from the cabin where your high yield passnegers sit doesnt seem too smart if you want to be the worlds best airline.
Its one thing to have an aspiration but quite another to spend the money to achieve it.
Qantas does not ,has not spent money on their airborne product for about 10 years.(Apart from the shiny new A380)
It shows
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just released by the FAAA
Send all correspondence to [email protected]
7 October 2010
Attention all Long Haul Cabin Crew
A330 AND A380 REDUCED CREW
Members would be aware via the FAAA and recent media reports that the Company has decided to remove a crew member from the A330 and A380 aircraft.
This comes at a time when the Australian dollar is travelling at the highest point in many years, the cost of fuel is down on previous highs and aircraft are full everyday as a result of increased confidence and the power of the Australian dollar.
Furthermore, you would not be aware unless you had logged into a crew voice that the level of engagement of Cabin crew is once again sliding towards 2004 levels. Dissatisfaction with the way we are being managed coupled with the now reduced crew numbers should make for an interesting impact on the next engagement survey later in the year.
It beggars belief that whilst Qantas has the lofty ideal of being the world's best premium carrier that we could reduce the crew that are the 'very' product that is the purpose of the whole bloody airline.
How less crew can improve service levels is quite frankly beyond me as a CSM and your elected spokesperson.
I noted with some chagrin that an invitation arrived via email to a cocktail evening with the "leadership team' to celebrate our contribution to service excellence. I presume a number of my OBM colleagues have been similarly invited. I will not be attending and I would suggest that those of you that feel similarly slapped in the face for our hard work might want to take a similar principled stand and do likewise. Many of you have asked what can we do to let the Company know how we feel and clearly this is one way.
Normally these things are a way of thanking OBM's for their efforts as often these efforts involve much or their own time and a huge personal commitment. Sadly with my colleagues being required to work harder with fewer resources with this de-crewing, I don't think that there is anything I am particularly keen to celebrate.
This reduction in crew will have direct impact on our flight attendant colleagues and we want you to know that the FAAA will be doing everything we can to have this ridiculous decision reviewed by Senior Management.
Finally, for purposes of comparing our reduced crewing (on the A380) to Singapore Airlines and Emirates (the two that Qantas likes to make comparisons with); we inform members Singapore Airlines operates with 23 crew on its A380 and Emirates operates with 24 crew plus two cabin crew assistants.
Our management has decided that 21 crew are enough on our self proclaimed flagship, the A380 and that 9 crew are sufficient on the A300-300. Another brilliant decision that will aid us to compete with Emirates and Singapore Airlines. No wonder we mere mortal cabin crew only get 3% pay rises but senior executives get massive increases. Obviously, they deserve their big increases based on brilliant strategic decisions like de-crewing.
Written by Steven Reed - President International Division
and authorised by Michael Mijatov - Secretary International Division
20 Ewan Street Mascot NSW 2020 Tel 61 2 8337 1111 Fax 61 2 8337 1122 Emergency Contact 0414 894 192 FAAA.net
7 October 2010
Attention all Long Haul Cabin Crew
A330 AND A380 REDUCED CREW
Members would be aware via the FAAA and recent media reports that the Company has decided to remove a crew member from the A330 and A380 aircraft.
This comes at a time when the Australian dollar is travelling at the highest point in many years, the cost of fuel is down on previous highs and aircraft are full everyday as a result of increased confidence and the power of the Australian dollar.
Furthermore, you would not be aware unless you had logged into a crew voice that the level of engagement of Cabin crew is once again sliding towards 2004 levels. Dissatisfaction with the way we are being managed coupled with the now reduced crew numbers should make for an interesting impact on the next engagement survey later in the year.
It beggars belief that whilst Qantas has the lofty ideal of being the world's best premium carrier that we could reduce the crew that are the 'very' product that is the purpose of the whole bloody airline.
How less crew can improve service levels is quite frankly beyond me as a CSM and your elected spokesperson.
I noted with some chagrin that an invitation arrived via email to a cocktail evening with the "leadership team' to celebrate our contribution to service excellence. I presume a number of my OBM colleagues have been similarly invited. I will not be attending and I would suggest that those of you that feel similarly slapped in the face for our hard work might want to take a similar principled stand and do likewise. Many of you have asked what can we do to let the Company know how we feel and clearly this is one way.
Normally these things are a way of thanking OBM's for their efforts as often these efforts involve much or their own time and a huge personal commitment. Sadly with my colleagues being required to work harder with fewer resources with this de-crewing, I don't think that there is anything I am particularly keen to celebrate.
This reduction in crew will have direct impact on our flight attendant colleagues and we want you to know that the FAAA will be doing everything we can to have this ridiculous decision reviewed by Senior Management.
Finally, for purposes of comparing our reduced crewing (on the A380) to Singapore Airlines and Emirates (the two that Qantas likes to make comparisons with); we inform members Singapore Airlines operates with 23 crew on its A380 and Emirates operates with 24 crew plus two cabin crew assistants.
Our management has decided that 21 crew are enough on our self proclaimed flagship, the A380 and that 9 crew are sufficient on the A300-300. Another brilliant decision that will aid us to compete with Emirates and Singapore Airlines. No wonder we mere mortal cabin crew only get 3% pay rises but senior executives get massive increases. Obviously, they deserve their big increases based on brilliant strategic decisions like de-crewing.
Written by Steven Reed - President International Division
and authorised by Michael Mijatov - Secretary International Division
20 Ewan Street Mascot NSW 2020 Tel 61 2 8337 1111 Fax 61 2 8337 1122 Emergency Contact 0414 894 192 FAAA.net
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backlash FAAA
How about no duty free sales until all crew have had a crew meal and thier first rest break. If operating one or more short no duty free at all.
refer my previous post.
refer my previous post.
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Looks like those self-service bars will need to be stocked up themselves. If they reduce the crew compliment they should reduce the inflight service, to go in line with the reduced employee morale and reduced customer satisfaction. 
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capt.
'How about no duty free sales until all crew have had a crew meal and thier first rest break. If operating one or more short no duty free at all.
refer my previous post.'
Just a punt here, but do QANTAS pay commission on DF sales? If so that service will be the last to go.
The odd free CC round will be the first to go, why should they, the CC, serve freebie drinks etc over DFs if commission is earned?
QANTAS give less away to the pax and CC keep commission (if paid).
the last 'Flag Carrier' I worked for, Purser and Captain could agree a minimum service level if short crewed from an outstation, provided the legal minimum required Crew available and both positions (Aircraft Commander and Trained Cabin 'Manager') happy beyond all doubt the new Full Crew could operate safely, the main Crew function being safe operation.
This Industry is gettin poor, no reflection at all aimed at Crew. If Beancounters wish to cut costs, look at how much Airlines give away. Find the happy medium between 'low cost' and service airline' philosophy'
If QANTAS (or any other Flag Carrier) offered 3 squares and water fountains on 24 Hr trips to the captive audience and charged for extras......................
refer my previous post.'
Just a punt here, but do QANTAS pay commission on DF sales? If so that service will be the last to go.
The odd free CC round will be the first to go, why should they, the CC, serve freebie drinks etc over DFs if commission is earned?
QANTAS give less away to the pax and CC keep commission (if paid).
the last 'Flag Carrier' I worked for, Purser and Captain could agree a minimum service level if short crewed from an outstation, provided the legal minimum required Crew available and both positions (Aircraft Commander and Trained Cabin 'Manager') happy beyond all doubt the new Full Crew could operate safely, the main Crew function being safe operation.
This Industry is gettin poor, no reflection at all aimed at Crew. If Beancounters wish to cut costs, look at how much Airlines give away. Find the happy medium between 'low cost' and service airline' philosophy'
If QANTAS (or any other Flag Carrier) offered 3 squares and water fountains on 24 Hr trips to the captive audience and charged for extras......................
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Two old pals with very similar ideas.
Willie Walsh and Alan Joyce: former colleagues who were cleared for take-off - Times Online
Willie Walsh and Alan Joyce: former colleagues who were cleared for take-off - Times Online
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They only listen to customers anyway, so when the service standards slip , hopefully, crew will give out the Customer Service address to forward their complaints. And for the OBM's out there.. Stop being a puppet and voice your opinion that your low score on KPI's are a direct result on Crew Numbers.
If we are in such financial distress to de-crew, then rethink being 'The Worlds Best Premium Airline' and adjust the Service that can accommodate less crew..
If we are in such financial distress to de-crew, then rethink being 'The Worlds Best Premium Airline' and adjust the Service that can accommodate less crew..
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financial distress???
days after ST gave her doom and gloom story most analysts upgraded QF profit forecasts and that was the trigger to action big bonuses to senior management by the board. low cost mentality but world class pay for the top
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Once the cuts have been made, the staffing levels will never return to what they were. Rumor has it that announcements will shortly be made over at shorthaul as well regarding reduced crew numbers.
