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While Alan Joyce didn’t actually say much firm about route developments at the launch of the Qantas-Emirates partnership, he certainly said enough, writes Ben Sandilands.

For Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to be running around Capital Hill saying ‘we could go broke’ to politicians is as clear a sign as any of the parlous state of management in Australia’s once iconic carrier.

The last time calls for direct government invention to save an airline were voiced in Australia was after the collapse of Ansett on September 14, 2001.

Qantas shares went into a power dive to a record low of $1.20 in early trading this morning after it slashed its profit guidance as much as 90%.

A combination of bravado and tacit admission of wrongdoing is contained in a defiant statement by Jetstar saying it will fight the charges laid by the FWA Ombudsman.

No one with business contacts in Hong Kong or China would be in any doubt that this is potentially a huge opportunity for Qantas.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce this morning delivered what he conceded was a poor half-year-to-December 31 performance by the company, while leaving considerable uncertainty hanging over jobs and services.

Virgin Australia confirmed what is only the first substantial addition of wide-bodied A330 capacity to key interstate markets that it will make in the nearer term.

Job security at Qantas was supposed to be impossible to guarantee. It was supposed to be fatal to the airline’s ability to escape from the confines of Australia’s borders and become competitive.

Events during the past 24 hours are not proving kind to Qantas’ ambitions in Asia. Vietnam Airlines and Malaysia Airlines have thrown spanners in the works.

Are claims by Qantas CEO Alan Joyce that it has not dropped its Red Q Asia based carrier credible? It appears to be like the parrot in the Monty Python sketch, not dead, just not talking, writes Ben Sandilands.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce faces a huge task to rebuild his credibility after a morning of intense questioning before a Senate inquiry.

Crikey’s political podcast with Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane joining Crikey editor Sophie Black to analyse the political and economic fallout stemming from Qantas’s historic decision to ground their national and international fleet.

While Alan Joyce is copping most of the grief for the provocative Qantas lock-out on Saturday, no such decision can ever be taken without full board approval.

Qantas now has a real threat to deal with — Virgin Australia, with its bigger, cheaper business-class seats, real meals in economy class, lounges with food and seats for everyone. With lower fares.

Crikey reads have their say.