Crikey’s SackWatch is now up to its fourth installment with another huge spate of lay-offs announced in the last week, writes Andrew Crook.
Virgin Blue
Oz vs NZ: Qantas attack
While the rest of the world’s air transport market goes into shock, Qantas has gone after the struggling Air New Zealand with massive force, writes Ben Sandilands.
Newcastle’s skies safe (well, safer) thanks to federal intervention
Joel Fitzgibbon and Anthony Albanese ditched CASA’s supposedly ‘safe’ Newscastle airport arrangements overnight, writes Ben Sandilands.
QF hedges its bets
Qantas screwed down its profit forecast and flying activity to new lows this morning, but it is still the sort of bad news most other global airlines would die for, writes Ben Sandilands.
Someone tell Tiger: we’re not falling for free flights any more
Tiger Airways must be wondering what it has to do to give away free flights, or get free advertising, and its competitors will be asking themselves the same questions, writes Ben Sandilands.
AirServices memo fails to shift the blame
The crisis gripping Australian air traffic control has serious safety implications, writes Ben Sandilands.
AirServices Australia memo
CEO Direct — Service interruptionsWednesday, 30 July 2008
The environment we are operating in
Over the next few days there will be further media on the issue of service interruptions, current and future staffing levels and associated issues. It is very important for the management team and I to provide you with a clear position on the central issues […]
Tips and rumours
The Liberals aren’t happy with Jamie Briggs winning the Mayo pre-selection. He’s an outsider and not a local. Local Liberals are now worried that the seat could seriously be lost to the Greens given the retirement of Downer. Labor will pump a huge amount of money into the Greens to try and make some mileage. […]
Toll quits Virgin Blue, books $1.3 billion loss
As Toll alights from Virgin Blue, investors breathe a sign of relief despite the billion dollar losses, says Stephen Mayne.
Tips and rumours
There is a lot of tension between the AFP Commissioner Keelty and the Deputy Commisioner and the editors of The Australian regarding the child p-rn bust coverage.
There’s currently an ABC tender out for refurbishment of part of their Ultimo HQ building. As well as quoting a price for the job, anyone who’s interested in it […]
More than fuel behind the Qantas capacity cuts
As the price of oil rises, the screwing has only just begun for Australian air travellers, writes Ben Sandilands.
Tips and rumours
It’s strongly rumoured that Bruce Matheson and his business partner will be the party that receives the pokie licence today. This culminates several years of strategy with the Labor Government to achieve. It’s further rumoured this started with a need for critical mass, hence his partner selection and purchase of 1,000 hectares of land several […]
Tips and rumours
They’re not a happy bunch at Fairfax’s Bendigo Advertiser. Recently, the MEAA announced it had discovered reporters had not been paid penalty rates for evening and weekend shifts for the past few years. General Manager Peter Dehnert’s response: “We must have overlooked it”. But it’s not just non-editorial management… recently appointed editor Peter Kennedy (three-time […]
Rudd’s open skies agreement a harbinger of change
Virgin Blue and Qantas are getting over something of a Krudd fright after the PM reaffirmed his pursuit of open skies agreements with all the countries he is visiting on his world tour, writes Ben Sandilands.
Tips and rumours
Fairfax Media wiped 37 sub editors off its payroll last August and has pooled them so there are no longer any specialists. They may be subbing a recipe for Good Living one minute, the stars the next, followed by a terrifyingly complicated business story the next. No doubt a lot of subs would rather leave […]
No chance of a Qantas flying visit to Mt Hotham
Plenty of snow but no jets or turbo-props is the latest forecast for the ski fields, writes Ben Sandilands.
ABC Learning keeps centres open, closes down share trading
ABC Learning shares went into a trading halt this morning as the directors started to come clean on the scale of their margin calls, writes Stephen Mayne.
Tricky Tiger’s luggage limit scam
Things are getting tricky for Tiger Airways passengers with bags. Here is what you need to know about Tiger’s trickery and evasiveness, writes Ben Sandilands.
Tips and rumours
Inside tip from staff at the ANZ is that Big Mike has said “NO” to funding the pulp mill.
Another possible buyer for the Toll Holdings controlling stake in Virgin Blue has sprung into view. Lufthansa stunned the US industry overnight by saying it will buy 19% of JetBlue for $US300 million. JetBlue bears some resemblance […]
The Qantas versus Dubai contest is the one to watch
Qantas spends most of $35 billion on future jets in two years and Emirates spends $39 billion in two days. Where will it all end? Ben Sandilands reports.
Class warfare starts between Virgin and Qantas
Any lingering doubts about Virgin Blue going after Qantas rather than Jetstar or Tiger disappeared at noon today when it announced a “red leather” premium economy class for all jets, writes Ben Sandilands.
When “open skies” means “closed skies”
The skies won’t be tooo friendly for Singapore Airlines when Australia signs a new aviation agreement with the US in the new year.
Virgin Blue: the third most profitable airline in the world
Virgin Blue grabbed the title of third most profitable airline in the world this morning by claiming a before tax margin of 14.2 % on sales. This makes it number three behind GOL of Brazil and Ryanair, and about twice as profitable per dollar of revenue as Qantas, writes Ben Sandilands.
$1 fares a sideshow to the main airline event
Sharp-eyed interstate flyers might have noticed that neither Qantas nor Virgin Blue seem fussed over the $1 fare wars that broke out this morning between Jetstar and Tiger.
