Qantas is under pressure in the media from a rather novel union campaign, in which compliance with due process is being turned into a virtue in long-running disputes with the airline group because no one is going on strike until some time after Anzac Day and Easter.
Tiger Airways
Players say our air-safety standards are good enough
The management mindset that risks the lives of hundreds of Australian air travellers in a crash in the next 10 years is abundantly on display in carrier and regulator submissions to the Senate inquiry into pilot training and airline safety.
Qantas capacity boost aims to give it to Tiger in the neck
Tiger is being put under siege by Qantas and Jetstar, which this morning detailed massive increases in capacity on domestic routes vital to Tiger’s fortunes.
Qantas result: lot of bad jam sandwiched between good bread
Qantas insists on departing from the normal ways of reporting financial results, and it’s fair to say the full-year results they announced this morning are the equivalent of an airline shafted by the light.
Tiger v Jetstar: the Thai invasion creating Australian turbulence
A new deal sprung this morning between Singapore Airlines-controlled Tiger Airways and Thai International adds to the competitive pressures which are causing the rush by Qantas to use its Jetstar subsidiary to offshore jobs and jets to avoid Australian costs.
A potentially disastrous near-miss in Tamworth’s skies
A Qantas 767 and Tiger A320 carrying a total of about 432 seats came within 3.8 nautical miles of each other while flying in opposite directions through controlled airspace over Tamworth last week. So why aren’t authorities alarmed?
Tiger drops its (un)bundle
Tiger’s announcement about check-in fees and increased checked baggage charges, certainly was a big, confusing PR stuff up, writes Ben Sandilands.
Pay to line up at Tiger, but bogs still free — for now
Apparently through accident rather than design Tiger Airways is in a communications melt down today after yesterday’s announcement of check-in charges of either $10 or $15 for passengers travelling with carry-on luggage.
Carry on farce coming soon to a Tiger screen near you
Tiger has replaced its 20 kilograms for $20/25 checked-bag option with a $45 for 25 kilograms up-size offer, and seems to be moving towards a charge for some carry-on items as well.
Tasty Tiger gets a big feed
Helped by high trolley ‘lolly’ sales such as food and drinks in-flight, and a tax credit against earlier losses in Australia, Tiger Airways has posted a net profit after tax of $SIN 28.2 million, writes Ben Sandilands.
The iJet age begins
There will be four very different forms of ‘smart’ check-in procedures in domestic air travel by the end of this year, which should allow people who have checked in to board their flight right up to the moment the door is sealed. Ben Sandilands explains.
Sydney left in Melbourne’s wake as Avalon and Tiger do business
It looks like game, set and match for Melbourne when it comes to taking the title of the growth centre for Australia, as Tiger announce that Avalon will become its second Melbourne airport.
Tiger ready to pounce on Avalon
Well sourced rumours that the Tiger-Avalon Airport deal is close claim that Tiger will split its Melbourne operations and leave the ones that most trouble Qantas and Jetstar at Tullamarine, writes Ben Sandilands.
Jetstar smell Tiger blood
Jetstar is taking on everyone — including Qantas — with the announcement of multi-daily flights to Melbourne and Brisbane. But its main aim is Jetstar clone Tiger and the predator has finally become the prey, says Ben Sandilands.
The other Tiger not out of the woods
Tiger’s operations in Australia and throughout South-East Asia have seen a shrinkage of the pool of cash from forward sales.
How Jetstar is devouring Qantas
Forget any hope of a quick revival in business demand for those nice big “full service” Qantas seats — the company has posted figures showing poor yields for the first quarter of its current financial year, while its low-fare arm Jetstar more than doubled in customers.
Flying every Australian airline in one day
Angus Kidman flies all of Australia’s four domestic airlines — Jetstar, Qantas, Tiger and Virgin Blue — in one day. Which is the best? The worst? Who has the least disgusting in-flight meals?
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: McLucas returns?
Is Jan McLucas planning a comeback? Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital loses some big bucks, Fred Nile polls the electorate and more tips from Crikey readers.
The Tiger vs. Qantas battle is turning nasty
The battle of the low-cost trans-border franchises of Singapore Airlines-controlled Tiger and Qantas-directed Jetstar Asia is heating up, with Jetstar’s plans to fly twice daily between Singapore and Tokyo being shot out of the sky this morning.
Tiger bites Roo with Melbourne-Brisbane flights
Another Qantas Cityflyer route is being munched on by Tiger, reports Ben Sandilands: this time, it’s the Melbourne to Brisbane route, with the low-fare airline offering flights up to three times daily from 28 March.
Tiger bares its teeth at Cityflyer
Low fare airline Tiger Airways continues its assault on Qantas’ Cityflyer operation with the announcement of even more Sydney flights, says Ben Sandilands. Yep: not low fare Jetstar, nor middle market Virgin Blue, but high fare Qantas. Grr.
CHOICE names and shames the shonkiest brands of the year
Consumer advocate CHOICE has named its picks for the shonkiest Australian products and services for 2009. Brands coming under fire this year include Aldi, L’Oreal, Tiffany, Qantas and Tiger Airways.
Time for Tiger Airways to stop pussy-footing around compensation
There is no justification for Tiger Airways taking up to two months to compensate hundreds of passengers for the expenses they had to meet after being stranded in Hobart for three days last week, says Ben Sandilands
Four airlines, two cities, and a big cat fight
Qantas and Virgin Blue lose a significant amount of control over domestic fares and scheduling from today when Tiger lifts its frequency on the Sydney-Melbourne route to nine times daily each way. The fur will fly, says Ben Sandilands.
Virgin posts $160m loss
Virgin Blue this morning confirmed a loss of $160 million for the year to June 30 while the guessing game about its recent strong share price performance continues.
