On the question of how to handle the Qantas disputes there are no easy choices for Labor, but Alan Joyce’s act of industrial terrorism is a superb opportunity for a government under siege, writes Bernard Keane.
Alan Joyce
Joyce: Qantas passengers now have ‘certainty’
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has told Alan Kohler on ABC’s Inside Business that grounding flights would bring ‘certainty’ to customers and that the airline’s business travellers have strongly endorsed its action. A union spokesperson has called this ‘insane’, reports Ben Sandilands.
Qantas AGM turns into a ferocious showdown
With calls to save Qantas from “Asianisation” outside, and at times angry attacks on management defence of its decisions inside, the Qantas AGM turned nasty.
Qantas dispute: so much for the Prime Minister’s powers of persuasion
Last week Prime Minister Julia Gillard urged the unions and Qantas to negotiate a settlement of their disagreements. To say that none have been reached is something of an understatement, writes Ben Sandilands.
Qantas strikes: the players, who’s right and where will it end?
With the PM Julia Gillard and the Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson threatening to heavy the Qantas unions, what is going on in the disputes, and how did we get here?
Qantas grounds jets as the highway becomes a traveller option
Qantas is grounding five domestic jets (four 737s and one 767) from Monday, effectively cancelling 97 flights a week in a move its group CEO Alan Joyce says will allow it to maintain schedule reliability across the rest of its network.
Qantas in profit, Elvis, UFOs and no moon landings notwithstanding
This was possibly the first corporate results press conference in Australia in which a CEO invoked Elvis Presley and UFOs at Roswell.
aviation industry Joyce: No Qantas bid, formal or informal
Qantas group CEO Alan Joyce has told the full year financial results conference that there has been no takeover bid of any nature either formal or informal made to the company, writes Ben Sandilands.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: A low-cost solution to Qantas’s problems
Crikey readers have their say.
The Power Index Power Shots: Nick Minchin, keeper of the Howard flame … NGV’s power benefactor …
Leader of the Right and keeper of the Howard flame, Nick Minchin is still regarded by some as the Liberal Party’s spiritual leader. Also, the NGV’s power benefactor, Alan Joyce finds friends in the market and Bolt and Negus back in 2012.
Qantas: Katter says buy it back, Xenophon wants audit of losses
The political dimension of the Qantas restructuring had a high-noon blast-off in Canberra today when members of all parties held a press conference with key Qantas unions officials.
Qantas stance a game-losing own goal in pilot row
Since its pilots voted overwhelmingly to support any union call for lawful or protected industrial action, Qantas management has started arguing with its pilots about its plans to restructure the airline group rather than their pay claims for a tiny 2.5% three-year pay deal.
August 24 will be a bloody day for Qantas
It is rare for Qantas to reveal the performance of its passenger-carrying brands in isolation from each other. The current financial situation is so bad it threatens the very existence of Qantas as a group, says its CEO.
Qantas loses $200 million on international, makes $500 million overall
Qantas has filed a financial update to the ASX with includes an estimated $500-550 million group underlying profit and a $95 million benefit from its settlement with Rolls-Royce, reports Ben Sandilands.
Qantas CEO continues to downtalk the brand
Qantas is making a dismal spectacle of itself at the IATA conference at Singapore, with CEO Alan Joyce rubbishing the premium Qantas product. Why? asks Ben Sandilands.
For Qantas chiefs, life in the pressure cooker will get hotter
Telling Australians that Qantas needs to be less Australian to be successful is not a winning message.
Qantas does Dallas and keeps complaining about being Australian
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce celebrated the departure from Sydney to Dallas Forth Worth of its inaugural (and somewhat payload limited) non-stop 744ER service today with another declaration that its international business was losing money, reports Ben Sandilands.
At Qantas, the first cuts won’t be the deepest
Qantas has announced cutbacks in fleet growth, suspension of some flights by its main brands, and unspecified management job losses.
Qantas and Jetstar no shows before Senate today
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Jetstar Group CEO Bruce Buchanan are no shows at today’s public hearing by the Senate committee inquiring into pilot training and airline safety in Australia, reports Ben Sandilands.
Qantas chief shaky at Senate inquiry
After droning on for minutes about how Qantas’s safety “is our number one concern”, its CEO Alan Joyce was rattled before a Senate inquiry into pilot and airline training this morning.
Virgin, pregnancy row aside, having a good time of it
If it wasn’t for some nastiness in Virgin Blue concerning the undesirability of pregnant employees, its new CEO John Borghetti would be having a pretty good day.
Qantas profits soar to $241 million
Qantas kept its dividends grounded today while profits soared fourfold in the six months to December 31, 2010 to a net $241 million.
Confusion underlies Qantas’ underlying profit report
Qantas’ ambush introduction of underlying profit metrics, rather than traditional profit metrics, in its presentation and Q&A is likely to be a tougher sell to fund managers than it was to the media.
Qantas unveils its “Airport of the Future”
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has unveiled the company’s vision for the “Airport of the Future”, a strategy he claims will halve check-in times and allow passengers to check themselves and their baggage in electronically, avoiding the long airport queues.
How Geoff Dixon’s millions grounded
Qantas
For eight years, former Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon was the highest paid airline executive in the world, despite a pretty mediocre performance in the job. The irony hasn’t been lost on the company’s embattled workforce.
