Qantas has said it will try hard to come up with a solution to its long running dispute with workers’ unions before midnight, when, if unresolved, the situation will go to arbitration. The airline has said that it is unhelpful that Tony Sheldon, boss of the Transport Workers Union, is claiming that talks are already close to breaking down. Mr Sheldon believes that Qantas will stall and let the situation be handed over to Fair Work Australia.

Olivia Wirth, a spokeswoman for Qantas called his comments scaremongering, adding that the airline was not simply reverting to the position it held with the TWU five months ago. Ms Wirth said that since that time there had been concessions made by both parties.

She went on to say that Qantas was keen… Read the full story

by Riley Walker on November 21st, 2011

Planemaker Boeing has received its largest ever aircraft order from Indonesia’s Lion Air. The deal, worth $21.7 billion, is for 230 737 planes. The airline has also been given the option of ordering an additional 150 aircraft worth around $14 billion. The announcement comes just days after Dubai-based Emirates placed an order with Boeing for 50 777s, a deal estimated to be worth $18 million.

Randy Tinseth, Boeing’s marketing VP, said the order was indicative of the shift in demand from the west to Asia. He explained that two decades ago more than 70 per cent of the company’s orders were coming from airlines in Europe or America. Today that figure is around 50 per cent, and by 2030 it is likely to have fallen to around 40 per cent,… Read the full story

by Aadyn Taylor on November 17th, 2011

Qantas has invited guests and members of the media to take a closer look at Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner as the aircraft lands in Australia for the first time. The fuel efficient, carbon fibre aircraft is three years behind schedule, but according to Qantas boss, Alan Joyce, the plane has been worth waiting for.

The Dreamliner is spending two days in Sydney as part of the celebrations for the flag carriers 91^st birthday, and will move on to Melbourne on Thursday. The flying kangaroo already has 50 787s on order, the first 15 of which it intends to use on Jetstar routes. The aircraft are due to start being delivered from the middle of 2013.

According to Boeing, the Dreamliner is around 20 per cent more fuel efficient than other aircraft… Read the full story

by Lily Thompson on November 16th, 2011

Tiger Airways Australia has recorded losses of more than $S40 million for the first half of the financial year following the suspension of services due to safety concerns, and the economic impact of the Chilean volcanic ash cloud which drifted into New Zealand and Australian airspace. Losses for the second quarter were $S27 million.

The grounding of the airline’s 10 planes has damaged earnings for the carrier’s parent in Singapore. Tiger Airways Holdings made losses of close to $S50 million for the quarter ending 31 September. During the same three months a year earlier, the company managed to make profits of $S14 million.

For the first half, Tiger has been forced to declare total losses of $S71 million. The carrier has placed the majority of the blame on the fact that… Read the full story

by Mia Harris on November 15th, 2011

Qantas boss, Alan Joyce, has told the Australian Airports Association Conference that the airline intends to have a bio-fuel flight in the air by the beginning of next year. Mr Joyce admitted that powering planes in such a way was not a new idea, but added that it would be the first of its kind within Australia.

The flag carrier has already signed agreements with Solena, a firm which is looking into the production of water based engine fuel, and Solazyme, a company working on producing a fuel made from algae. Mr Joyce said that next years flight was supposed to be inspiring, and give people an idea of how commercial flights of the future will be powered.

He told the conference that Australia was in a prime position to… Read the full story

by Riley Walker on November 14th, 2011

The Transport Workers Union is considering challenging the ruling made by Fair Work Australia to halt all industrial action by the unions against Qantas. The watchdog was brought in by the government after Qantas boss Alan Joyce made to decision to ground the airline’s global fleet and instigate a lockout of workers. Qantas said the move was necessary as unions continued with rolling strikes.

The unions have been told by legal advisors that the carrier behaved in an improper manner, and if a Federal Court appeal is successful, then strike action could begin again. Tony Sheldon, leader of the TWU, said there was sufficient proof to show that the Fair Work Australia decision didn’t stand up legally.

Qantas has denied that this is the case, and claims that it acted… Read the full story

by Isabella Robinson on November 10th, 2011

It has emerged that many of the politicians who were willing to stand up and attack Qantas for deciding to ground its entire fleet, have been equally willing to accept free gifts and services from the flag carrier over the past couple of years. Among the perks that Senators and MPs have reportedly received are iPads, upgrades, AFL tickets, and bottles of wine.

Federal politicians are all also offered the opportunity to become members of Qantas’ Chairman’s Lounge. Indeed, it is apparent that Senator Scott Ludlam, of the Greens, made the most of the exclusive lounge the day he gave Qantas boss Alan Joyce a grilling for grounding the carrier’s planes.

Mr Joyce made the decision to cease services as long running battles with the unions looked set to continue.… Read the full story

by Lily Thompson on November 9th, 2011

Qantas has reconvened meetings with union representatives for the first time since airline chief executive, Alan Joyce, announced that the entire fleet would be grounded because of the ongoing dispute with workers. Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association secretary, Steve Purvinas, said Qantas was trying to axe the jobs of more than 120 engineers whose task it was to ensure that aircraft were in and adequate condition to fly.

Mr Purvinas said that he was angry that Qantas kept telling engineers about airline safety, when it was clearly the workers’ job to make sure that ‘planes were operating properly. He added that he would find out if Qantas were serious about entering into negotiations with the union, or whether the airline would simply continue to stonewall. A second meeting has been… Read the full story

by Mia Harris on November 8th, 2011

Qantas has announced that it will be offering free tickets to passengers who experienced disruption after the airline’s entire fleet was grounded recently. Thousands of passengers were left stranded in cities around the globe when the flag carrier decided to cancel services in reaction to and ongoing battle with the unions.

The free ticket offer will apply to economy class return flights within New Zealand and Australia and will cost Qantas around $20 million. Alan Joyce, the carrier’s chief executive, said the free tickets were just one of the initiatives which will be introduced as a way of apologising to customers for the recent disruption. He added that more announcements would be made over the coming weeks.

Qantas planes took the air again after Fair Work Australia intervened and told… Read the full story

by Riley Walker on November 7th, 2011

Qantas boss Alan Joyce has defended plans to expand the airline into Asia and pursue global ambitions. The chief executive had been summoned to a meeting with lawmakers to discuss his decision to ground the carrier’s entire fleet last weekend, which resulted in thousands of passengers being left stranded. A private bill is now in front of parliament which, if passed, will mean Qantas jobs remain in Australia.

The airline has been suffering recently because unions representing workers have called a series of stoppages in protest of the possibility that jobs will be lost as they are moved overseas. Mr Joyce said if the bill was pushed through, then Qantas’ ability to expand internationally would be severely hampered. He said that it would effectively lock the company within Australia.

Qantas… Read the full story

by Cooper Anderson on November 4th, 2011