Qantas 737 engine malfunction suspected as cause of fire at Sydney Airport

A passenger heard a loud bang on a Qantas aircraft as it took off from Sydney earlier today on a flight heading to Brisbane and the crew experienced an engine malfunction. The result was a large grass fire at the side of the runway, causing plumes of smoke to rise into the air.

One of the passengers on the flight was a producer for the Today Show and told the programme about her experiences. "'We had just taken off when we heard a bang. One of the engines appeared to have failed.  There was silence on board and for a while, it felt like we weren’t gaining much altitude. There were some worried looks throughout the cabin.  About ten minutes later, the pilot came on to reassure us about safety, explaining that they’d had an issue with the right engine on takeoff and had to shut it down for safety reasons."

According to local media reports, the aircraft circled around Botany Bay before making an emergency landing back at Sydney, followed by fire engines and emergency response vehicles. All 174 passengers disembarked the Boeing 737 safely and no injuries have been reported. Qantas, Australia's leading legacy carrier largest airline has already launched an investigation into what caused the incident. 

A spokesperson for the airport confirmed the "Main runway is operational, however, passengers should also expect some delays and we thank everyone for their patience." 

Another passenger on the flight was ABC journalist Mark Willacy, who describes the emergency from his perspective in the following video.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed it had commenced an investigation, a spokesperson said the bureau is looking into "the engine failure incident involving a Qantas 737 aircraft during take-off from Sydney on Friday afternoon."

A team of transport safety investigators have already begun collecting evidence and "at the ATSB’s request, the operator has quarantined the aircraft’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders.  Once downloaded, information from those recorders will be analysed at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra."

There has been some concern voiced locally that engineers from Qantas examined the engine and said it was a "contained engine failure" with parts taken prior to the ATSB investigators' arrival.   

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Qantas Freight ramps up capacity on cargo.one as it doubles down on global digital sales

Qantas Freight, the cargo division of Australia’s national carrier and cargo . one today shared details of a collaboration that brings the airline’s capacity to thousands more freight forwarders globally using the cargo . one platform. Qantas Freight and cargo . one have combined efforts in recent months to offer forwarders a seamless, reliable and simplified end to end digital quoting and booking experience. Reflecting how far digital freight has progressed, cargo . one now offers instant bookings for Qantas’ famous “Kangaroo Route” from the UK to Australia after successfully launching trans-Pacific services on the platform late last year. Qantas is the only carrier to offer nonstop services from the UK to Australia with its daily flights from London to Perth, as well as its daily flights to Australia via Singapore.

Founded over 100 years ago flying freight in regional Queensland, Qantas has grown to become Australia’s largest airline and national carrier, with Qantas Freight the country's leading air cargo carrier and largest independent air freight services business. With a vast domestic network and over 500 destinations worldwide, including Jetstar services, Qantas Freight plays a critical role in connecting Australia with major economies and cargo lanes worldwide. 

Qantas Freight operates over 20 cargo handling terminals around Australia and Los Angeles, and recently announced a substantial expansion into Western Sydney International (WSI) airport’s new air cargo precinct, itself set to increase Sydney's total capacity by 33 per cent. Leveraging its dedicated narrow and wide body freighters, and extensive bellyspace capacity across both Qantas and Jetstar fleet, Qantas Freight offers freight forwarders great flexibility and a wide spectrum of air cargo products. 

cargo . one now enables forwarders to discover, quote and book general cargo with Qantas Freight on its extensive transpacific network connecting important North American hubs to Australia and New Zealand. cargo . one also offers instant bookings for the iconic “Kangaroo Route” from the UK to Australia. Qantas flights operate daily from London to Perth and Singapore with connections to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne – the key hubs on Australia’s east coast. Capacity on all direct UK-AU services is now available to book on the cargo . one platform. 

Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft

Qantas pilots have started training in preparation for the first Airbus A321XLR aircraft to arrive in Australia next year.  As part of Qantas’ fleet renewal programme, 28 of the Airbus A321XLR aircraft have been ordered which will replace the Australian carrier's fleet of Boeing 737  jets over the next decade.

The A321XLR is the longest-range variant of the Airbus A320 family, which will allow Qantas to open up new non-stop routes that aren’t currently viable with its planes. Qantas says the new fleet will offer a more comfortable flying experience for customers with a quieter cabin, deliver more reliable operations and generate fewer emissions per seat than the aircraft they replace.

Inside Qantas A321XLR passengers will experience a wider economy seat than on the 737  planes, with extra comfortable seat cushioning.  The new planes feature the largest overhead bins of any single-aisle aircraft that allow for 60 per cent more bags and there is a sense of spaciousness in the long cabin with higher ceilings and large windows, and a wider cabin than the aircraft it is replacing.  

The new  A321XLR aircraft will be configured for 197 passengers across two cabins, with 20 Business seats in a 2-2 layout and 177 Economy seats in a 3-3 placement. Although, the first three Qantas A321XLRs will arrive configured with 180 Economy seats.  Plus Qantas is also installing fast, free  Wi-F to the aircraft, allowing all customers in-flight connectivity to stay connected across multiple devices, as well as the improved Qantas Entertainment App for streaming content to their own device.

Training

Ahead of the arrival of the first A321XLR, Qantas pilots have started training on a new CAE 7000XR Series A320 simulator that was shipped from Montreal, Canada, to Australia earlier in the year over a 34-day journey. The simulator is fitted with the latest technology and will be one of the few in the world fitted with a dual head-up display. The A320 simulator is based in the new Sydney Flight Training Centre that is expected to be fully operational with more flight simulators and training equipment to be added by the end of the year.

More than 240 Qantas pilots are expected to be trained on the A321XLR aircraft over the next three years, opening up new career pathways and promotional opportunities. Pilots will spend up to 60 hours in the new simulator as part of their broader training program, and then return each year for four recurrency training sessions. 

In addition, around 2,000 cabin crew will also be progressively trained on the new aircraft type as they enter the fleet.

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Qantas’ A321XLR is five metres longer than the outgoing 737s and will be configured to seat 197 people (20 business, 177 economy) – a 13 per cent increase across the whole cabin with no reduction in space between seats and a 66 per cent increase in premium seats.

It can fly approximately 3,000km further than the 737 (at 8,700km) and opens up a wider range of direct domestic and short haul international routes (e.g. South East Asia, Pacific islands).

Qantas’ A321XLR will be powered by Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbo Fan engines (PW1100G-JM).

The A321XLR improves noise levels compared to previous generation aircraft.

On a per seat basis, the A321XLR is expected to burn less fuel than the 737 aircraft it replaces.

Qantas employees are helping name the new fleet of aircraft under the theme of Walks, Rivers and Roads as a nod to the iconic travel opportunities across Australia and the importance of connecting this vast landscape and beyond. The first aircraft to arrive will be called Great Ocean Road.

 Fact Sheet Qantas Group Fleet Renewal.

Qantas has launched flights between Brisbane and Port Vila....

The Australian airline Qantas has launched flights between Brisbane and Port Vila, Vanuatu for the first time in its history.   The new route offers three direct flights per week from the Sunshine State, and from 12 December 2024, the sister airline of Qantas, Jetstar will also offer up to four weekly flights between Sydney and Port Vila.  When that happens, the group says it will offer 150,000 new seats each year between Australia and Vanuatu.

The new flights are aimed at promoting tourism between Australia and Vanuatu, as well as strengthening economic ties between the two nations, adding a financial boost to the local communities and the greater region.

Qantas Group CEO International Cam Wallace says: "We are thrilled to expand our network with the introduction of direct flights between Brisbane and Port Vila. This new route will maintain connectivity between Australia and the South Pacific, opening new opportunities for leisure and business travel to the region. With its lush landscapes and crystal blue waters, Vanuatu is a truly remarkable destination and we are proud to offer our customers more ways to experience its natural beauty."

Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan Graaff commented:  "This new Qantas route to Port Vila reinforces Brisbane Airport’s role as Australia’s Pacific hub.  The service offers Queenslanders an easy escape to paradise on our doorstep. It also provides the growing number of people from Vanuatu now living in Queensland, particularly those working in the agricultural sector, with direct access to home and family."

Vanuatu Tourism Office CEO Adela Issachar Aru says: "The launch of Qantas’ inaugural flight from Brisbane to Port Vila marks a significant milestone for Vanuatu’s tourism industry and strengthens our connectivity with Australia.

Vanuatu offers an unforgettable escape, where travellers can immerse themselves in stunning landscapes, rich kastom, and adventure. We can’t wait to welkam Qantas customers to our shores and share the beautiful experiences our 83 islands have to offer."

Qantas will operate the route with a Boeing 737-800 aircraft featuring 12 business class and 162 economy seats, on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. 

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Qantas was the most punctual major Australian domestic airline in July......

Qantas was the most punctual major domestic airline in July, with the latest Government data showing Qantas flights (Qantas and QantasLink) departed on time 74.1 per cent of the time, compared to 73 per cent for its main competitor.

From April to the end of July, almost 80 per cent of Qantas flights departed on time, nearing long term averages.

It was the highest July result for Qantas since 2021 but down slightly on recent months with airlines impacted by severe weather events.

Challenging weather conditions including strong winds created delays and cancellations around the network on 27 of 31 days last month and airlines were limited to just one runway at Sydney Airport on 9 separate days.

3.2 per cent of Qantas domestic flights were cancelled in July, slightly lower than June’s result of 3.3 per cent.

Jetstar was severely impacted by the global Crowdstrike outage with close to 150 flights cancelled as a result. In total, 3.7 per cent of Jetstar’s domestic flights were cancelled in July and 65 per cent of flights departed on time.

Qantas joins new alliance to accelerate global sustainable aviation fuel supply

Qantas has joined an alliance of airlines, an aircraft manufacturer, and energy and financing companies to help accelerate global production of aviation biofuel.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance (SAFFA) fund has been formed with anchor-investor Airbus as well as Air France-KLM, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc., BNP Paribas, Associated Energy Group, and Burnham Sterling Asset Management (as fund manager).

The initial partners have committed around $US200 million, with Qantas initially committing US$50 million (AU$75 million1) from its Climate Fund, which was established in 2023 and includes the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) partnership with Airbus.

SAF is one of the most effective tools that airlines currently have to reduce their emissions, with low and zero emissions aviation technology decades away, but local and global demand far outstrips supply.

Through SAFFA, the partners will invest in SAF technology development and production projects with an initial focus on opportunities that repurpose existing infrastructure. Investments will be initially focused in the United States, but in time are expected to be diversified across various SAF production pathways and regions.

Airbus and partners invest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel financing fund

Airbus, the Air France-KLM Group, Associated Energy Group, LLC, BNP Paribas, Burnham Sterling, Mitsubishi HC Capital Inc. and Qantas Airways Limited co-invested in a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) financing fund to accelerate the production of SAF.

The corporate partners worked with investment manager Burnham Sterling Asset Management to establish the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Financing Alliance (SAFFA) investment fund in which Airbus is the Anchor Investor. The commitment from the seven partners is amounting to an aggregate of approx. US$200 million.

Each partner brings experience and financial expertise to the fund with the ambition to accelerate the availability of SAF by investing mainly in technologically mature SAF-producing projects using for instance waste-based feedstocks. Investments will be diversified across various SAF's production pathways and also by region.

Perth - Paris now linked with a direct Qantas flight....

Qantas has launched direct flights between Peth and Paris, marking the return of the Flying Kangaroo operating services to the City of Light for the first time in 20 years.

The new direct route will cut around three hours off the existing fastest travel time between the two cities and is the longest non-stop flight to France from anywhere in the world the airline advises.

Qantas especially moved forward to the service to start just ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris. The route will initially operate four times per week over the busy European summer and Olympic and Paralympics before moving to three services per week from mid-August. The new route is said to add an additional 75,000 seats between Australia and France each year.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the national carrier’s return to Paris followed on from the success of its non-stop services into Europe.  “There is a lot of excitement amongst our customers and crew that Qantas is returning to Paris and that it’s a non-stop flight between Perth and Paris.

In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long-haul routes and avoiding stopovers wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.

With these new flights, our customers can depart Perth in the evening and arrive in Paris in time to enjoy brunch overlooking the Eiffel Tower.”

Western Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti said direct flights formed a major part of the WA Government’s overarching tourism strategy.  “We’re really excited to have this flight between Perth and Paris take off, as one of 20 international destinations we now have direct links with.  We know that people are more likely to travel to places they’re able to easily access, so this is another big win for tourism in Western Australia.”

 

Perh has connections to and from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane as well as many other major cities, which will be a boost for travellers both inbound and outbound. It also follows a special agreement between the airline, Perth Airport and the city authorities to enhance connectivity to the region. 

The new service will be operated on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft that have been specially designed for the long-haul direct route. The jets are configured with 236 seats across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins in a layout that has been designed to maximise comfort for the longer distances.

QF33 Perth-Paris

QF34 Paris-Perth

Flight time: 17 hours 20 minutes

Travel distance: 14,264km

. Book Qantas flights here....

Book Qantas flights here....

Qantas Frequent Flyers will have access to over 20 million more reward seats

Qantas Frequent Flyers will have access to over 20 million more reward seats with the launch of Classic Plus Flight Rewards, a new way for members to use their Qantas Points to book flights.

This change is one of the biggest ever expansions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program in its 35-year history and will make it easier to travel to places like London, Tokyo, New York and Singapore with Qantas Points, even during peak times.

While usually requiring more points than the existing Classic reward seats, Classic Plus will represent some of the best value across the frequent flyer program with much wider availability. Classic Plus reward seats are also eligible for upgrades.

The points required to book Classic Plus reward seats will vary like normal airfares, which means they’ll be lower during off-peak periods or when booking early, and higher during peak periods. During sales and promotions, Classic Plus reward seats may drop below a Classic reward seat on the same route (see tables below).

Classic Plus reward seats can be booked from today on Qantas international flights departing Australia for travel from 1 July 2024 exclusively via qantas.com and will be rolled out across the rest of the airline’s international and domestic network on Qantas-operated flights by the end of the year.

By the end of calendar year 2024, when Classic Plus has fully launched across the international and domestic network, members will have had access to 20 million new reward seats for travel across the rolling 12-month booking window. There will be a similar level of availability on an ongoing basis.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said frequent flyers have more ways than ever to earn points and a new flight reward option would open up more value for frequent flyers wanting to use their growing points balances on travel.

“The Qantas Frequent Flyer program is an integral part of Qantas and has always been about recognising our customers for their loyalty. We’ve spent a lot of time listening to members about how we can better reward them,” Ms Hudson said.

“We’re adding over 20 million new flight rewards with the launch of a new type of reward seat called Classic Plus. It’s one of the biggest expansions we’ve made to the Frequent Flyer program in its 35-year history.

“The growth and success of Qantas Loyalty is driven by engaged members who earn and redeem points across the frequent flyer program, including with our partners, and that’s why we’re investing in making more seats available to book with points.”

Qantas commits to financing Reef Restoration Fund

• Qantas partners with Great Barrier Reef Foundation to accelerate restoration of coral reefs
• The national carrier to invest $10 million over 10 years including rollout of world-first coral restoration technology
• Qantas Group launches Nature Action Plan outlining commitment to address nature and biodiversity loss

Qantas and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have launched a new fund that will help accelerate the restoration of Australia’s reef systems, including investment in Coral IVF programs, corals with increased heat tolerance and world-first portable coral nurseries.

Building on a 15-year partnership with the Foundation, Qantas will invest $10 million over 10 years in the Reef Restoration Fund to support scientists, Traditional Owners and local tourism operators restoring corals across the Great Barrier Reef and other iconic Australian coral reefs.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden and Qantas Group Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Parker announced the partnership at the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator in Townsville.

Ms Marsden said: “Australia is the guardian of some of the most iconic coral reefs in the world. It’s a huge responsibility and we’re proud to see one national icon supporting another. This partnership will help fund critical actions at a critical time.

“Coral reefs are the beating heart of our oceans. They’re a nursery and safe haven for a quarter of all marine life and support a billion people worldwide. But the Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs around Australia and the world, cannot adapt fast enough to warming ocean temperatures, making them one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. We must help safeguard their future from the impacts of climate change.

“We’ve made more advances in coral reef restoration science in the past five years than we have in the past five decades. Over the life of the partnership, we’re committed to finding opportunities to share these learnings with Australia’s other coral reefs.”

Mr Parker said the partnership is a key element of the national carrier’s Nature Action Plan, which launched last week.

“Connecting our customers with natural landscapes is at the core of what we do, including carrying millions of people to the reef each year,” said Mr Parker.

“We know that aviation is a high emissions industry, which is why we were one of the first airlines globally to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. We want to take the same leadership in addressing our impact on nature so that future generations can enjoy all the opportunities that global travel offers for years to come.

“By establishing the Reef Restoration Fund with our trusted partner of 15 years, we’re helping accelerate the development of world-leading technologies and projects to restore some of our most critical ecosystems.

“It’s part of our commitment to address nature and biodiversity loss by reducing the impact of our operations and supply chain, supporting the broader restoration of nature and advocating for cross-sector transformation.

“These commitments are just the first step. We are also developing rigorous nature-related targets and plans on how we’ll achieve them, which we expect to release by the middle of next year,” added Mr Parker.

First Airbus A220 arrived for Qantas in December

The first QantasLink Airbus A220 aircraft landed in Sydney on 20th December marking the next phase in the Group’s fleet renewal programme.  The aircraft, which features a special indigenous livery, was ferried from Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, and touched down at midday after stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi (Fiji).

It is the first of 29 A220s that will be delivered to QantasLink as part of the Group’s domestic fleet renewal program. A further 36 widebody aircraft are also on order.

The A220s have double the range of the Boeing 717s they replace, giving them the ability to fly non-stop between any two points in Australia. As the first aircraft of their type in Australia, the 137-seat aircraft are expected to open up new (direct) domestic and short-haul international routes as more enter the fleet.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A220 would unlock improvements ranging from lower emissions to less noise and better passenger comfort.  “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome this new A220 aircraft, along with the benefits it will bring to our customers and career opportunities for our people.  The size and range of the A220 means we can add new direct routes to our network that may not have been commercially viable before.

More fuel efficient aircraft is one way we’re working towards net zero and the A220 generates around 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions than the previous generation as well as being much quieter.  This arrival marks the start of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history as the Group takes delivery of one new aircraft every three weeks on average over the next few years.

On the back of this fleet investment we’re recruiting more pilots, cabin crew and engineers and expect to create around 8500 local jobs over the next decade,” 

As the first A220 to be operated in Australia, the aircraft, registered as VH-X4A, will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness and crew familiarisation and training activities before it commences flying on the Melbourne-Canberra route in the first quarter of 2024. A dedicated A220 flight simulator for pilot training is based in Melbourne.

Qantas takes delivery of its first A220 to replace Boeing 717 jets

Australia’s national carrier has taken delivery of its first new generation A220, becoming the 20th operator of the type. The aircraft is the first of 29 A220s ordered by the Qantas Group for operation by QantasLink, their regional airline that services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.

Featuring a unique livery based on an Aboriginal artwork, the aircraft will depart the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel in the coming days for a delivery flight to Sydney, with stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi.

The A220 will gradually replace the existing 717 fleet at QantasLink. Flying twice as far, the A220 can connect any two points across Australia non-stop, while also bringing a significant 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.

The A220 also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, offering passengers superior comfort. With a total of 137 seats, Qantas’ A220s will be configured in a two class layout seating 10 passengers in business and 127 in economy.

Specifically designed for the 100-150 seat segment, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category. Powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometres non-stop. 

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030. 

Airbus has received close to 850 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which over 300 have been delivered worldwide.

Pilots from Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation to strike next week.

The Australian Federation of Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation of a two-day work stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

AFAP members – who make up over 90 per cent of the pilot group employed by Network Aviation – will stop work from 0001 Wednesday 1 November to 23:59 Thursday 2 November.

“It is disappointing that there has not been any indication in the last four weeks that Qantas management might shift its position to bring its WA-based pilots’ wages and conditions into line with those of other Qantas Group pilots,” according to Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens.

“Unfortunately, our members at Network Aviation now have no other option but to give notice for lawful protected industrial action.”

After the first 24-hour work stoppage on 4 October, the company put forward another sub-standard offer – without seeking the endorsement of the AFAP which represents the vast majority of the pilot group in the bargaining negotiations – for the entire pilot group to vote on.

After an emphatic rejection of this offer – with 90% of the entire pilot group employed by Network Aviation voting ‘no’ – the next step appears to be a meeting mediated by the Fair Work Commission.

“Qantas management appears unwilling to take control themselves so have shifted the responsibility to the Fair Work Commission,” said Mr Aikens.  “We look forward to what new and revised offering the company proposes to take to the mediation on Monday,” he said.  “We are hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”

A Qantas spokesperson attacked the pilots and union accusing them of acting in bad-faith bargaining and called the action unreasonable.  "This latest strike action from the pilots' union is an unreasonable escalation of the dispute and comes just days after they increased their demands even further. - After originally asking for 50 per cent pay increases, the union is now demanding even more benefits."

Qantas halts take over plans of Alliance following regulatory opposition.

Qantas and Alliance Aviation Services Ltd Alliance have announced the termination of their May 2022 agreement for Qantas to fully acquire the Australian-based charter operator.

Qantas’ acquisition of Alliance was formally opposed by the competition regulator in April 2023. Both companies believe the acquisition would have created customer value without lessening competition in the highly competitive resources sector – particularly through the efficiencies created through a combined fleet of F100 aircraft. However, both companies acknowledge that there is no reasonable path forward for the deal at present.

Qantas will continue to serve the growing resources sector through its existing charter operations; it currently has around 27 per cent of the total charter market.

The Group will retain its shareholding of nearly 20 per cent of Alliance and will continue its long-term agreement that sees Alliance operate up to 30 E190s for the Qantas Group.

Qantas has agreed to exercise options over four additional aircraft under that agreement, which will bring the total number of E190s operated by Alliance for the Qantas Group to 26, with four options remaining. The additional aircraft are expected to join the Qantas fleet from April 2024.

Qantas Group Executive of Associated Airlines and Services John Gissing said: “Alliance is an important partner for the Qantas Group and the E190s have helped us open new routes across Australia. These four new aircraft will provide additional capacity and connectivity in the domestic market.”

Alliance Managing Director Scott McMillan said: “Despite the outcome of the transaction, we look forward to continuing our long-standing and productive relationship with Qantas.”   

Qantas provides market update

The Qantas Group provides the following update to inform the market of a material increase to investment in customer improvements, continued strength in travel demand and the impact of elevated fuel prices.

Customer improvements......

The Group will invest a further $80 million in customer improvements across FY24 in addition to the $150 million previously budgeted, which will be funded from profits.

This additional investment is aimed at addressing a number of customer ‘pain points’ through improvements such as better contact centre resourcing and training, an increase in the number seats that can be redeemed with Frequent Flyer points, more generous recovery support when operational issues arise, a review of longstanding policies for fairness and improvements to the quality of inflight catering.

Qantas is also working to accelerate some initiatives already underway, such as the re-platforming of the Qantas app. More detail on these actions will be shared in coming weeks.

Demand levels.....

Overall travel demand remains strong, with trading conditions in the first quarter of FY24 similar to the last quarter of FY23.

Qantas and Jetstar expect to carry more than 4 million passengers over the September/October school holidays and football finals period on almost 35,000 domestic and international services. This compares with around 3.7 million passengers on approximately 28,000 services over the same four week period last year.

Latest survey data shows that travel remains a top spending priority among Qantas Frequent Flyers over the next six months, well ahead of entertainment, renovations and homewares[1]. The Group greatly appreciates the continued support from customers choosing Qantas and Jetstar.

Fuel, fx......

Qantas releases annual report.....

The Australian airline Qantas has released its most recent annual report at a crucial time in the airline's history when its reputation is falling to an all-time low.  The carrier has recently drawn much criticism for continuing to sell tickets for flights it had already cancelled and not telling passengers of cancelled flights until the last moment, with the ACCC starting legal proceedings in August.  Qantas has also lost a legal battle after the federal court said the airline's replacing redundant grown staff with outsourced staff was illegal. The airline's new chief executive, Vanessa Hudson, has been ordered to attend mediation proceedings with a union chief to now settle compensation and penalty claims.

The airline reported a $2.47 billion underlying profit, while hundreds of customers are still waiting for refunds on axed flights. Its former CEO Alan Joyce was paid $21.4m for his final full year in charge, despite stepping down early.  His pay would have been higher but some of the promised bonuses have been withheld.  The carrier said it might even claw back some more money from Joyce should the reputational crisis continue. 

"We take our obligations under consumer law, and therefore these allegations, very seriously and are working through the legal process now underway. What we can say in the interim is Qantas’ longstanding practice is that when a flight is cancelled, customers are offered an alternative flight or a refund. However, in the interests of good governance, the Board will withhold payments under the FY23 short-term incentive program for senior executives while this matter progresses." said the group's chairman, Richard Goyder in the annual report. 

The airline has also suffered a series of hydraulic technical incidents with its Boeing 737 fleet which have seen passengers stranded on jets for hours. The delays and the reported poor customer service after the events are having a detrimental effect on the carrier's already tarnished reputation. 

FY23-Annual-Report.pdf (qantasnewsroom.com.au)

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce retires ahead of schedule as legal action starts against the airline for selling and advertising flights it had already cancelled.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce has retired from the company around two months ahead of schedule the Australian airline has confirmed. 

Joyce said: “In the last few weeks, the focus on Qantas and events of the past make it clear to me that the company needs to move ahead with its renewal as a priority.

The best thing I can do under these circumstances is to bring forward my retirement and hand over to Vanessa and the new management team now, knowing they will do an excellent job.

There is a lot I am proud of over my 22 years at Qantas, including the past 15 years as CEO. There have been many ups and downs, and there is clearly much work still to be done, especially to make sure we always deliver for our customers. But I leave knowing that the company is fundamentally strong and has a bright future,” Mr Joyce said.

As a result, CEO Designate Vanessa Hudson has taken over the Group CEO role and takes on the mantle of Managing Director, ahead of a host of issues that could present problems for the group in the not-too-distant future. 

Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder said: “Alan has always had the best interests of Qantas front and centre. On behalf of the Board, we sincerely thank him for his leadership through some enormous challenges and for thinking well ahead on opportunities like ultra-long-haul travel.

As previously planned, shareholders will formally vote on the appointment of Vanessa Hudson as Managing Director at Qantas’ Annual General Meeting in November.

Some in the Australian aviation industry have indicated the thought that Joyce jumped early after the news broke that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission confirmed it was taking the airline to task after it was revealed that Qantas advertised and was selling tickets for more than 8,000 flights it had already cancelled in its system.  The ACCC is alleging Qantas was engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct in advertising the flights, scheduled between May and July 2022. 

The ACCC said Qantas had continued to sell flights that it had already cancelled on average of more than two weeks, and in some cases for up to 47 days. Equally disturbing is the revelation that Qantas did not notify existing ticketholders that their flights had been cancelled for an average of about 18 days, and in some cases for up to 48 days. 

 ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said: “The ACCC has conducted a detailed investigation into Qantas’ flight cancellation practices. As a result, we have commenced these proceedings alleging that Qantas continued selling tickets for thousands of cancelled flights, likely affecting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people”

“We allege that Qantas’ conduct in continuing to sell tickets to cancelled flights, and not updating ticketholders about cancelled flights, left customers with less time to make alternative arrangements and may have led to them paying higher prices to fly at a particular time not knowing that flight had already been cancelled.”

“There are vast distances between Australia’s major cities. Reliable air travel is essential for many consumers in Australia who are seeking to visit loved ones, take holidays, grow their businesses or connect with colleagues. Cancelled flights can result in significant financial, logistical and emotional impacts for consumers,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

Just a few of the examples of flights allegedly affected as reported ACCC:

Qantas flight QF93 was scheduled to depart from Melbourne to Los Angeles on 6 May 2022. On 28 April 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 2 May 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 4 May 2022 (two days before the flight).

Qantas flight QF81 was scheduled to depart from Sydney to Singapore on 4 June 2022. On 8 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 27 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 28 March 2022.

Qantas flight QF63 was scheduled to depart from Sydney to Johannesburg on 31 July 2022. On 8 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 27 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 28 March 2022.

Qantas flight QF486 was scheduled to depart from Melbourne to Sydney on 1 May 2022. On 18 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 15 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 16 March 2022.

Qantas flight QF1785 was scheduled to depart from Gold Coast to Sydney on 1 May 2022. On 17 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 15 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 16 March 2022.

The ACCC has investigated various aspects of Qantas’ conduct over the past three years. It has been engaging with Qantas directly on aspects of its customer service in an effort to get quick and equitable outcomes for consumers, however, the ACCC considers that Qantas needs to do more.

The ACCC continues to receive more complaints about Qantas than about any other business. Last year alone the ACCC received more than 1,300 complaints about Qantas cancellations, accounting for half of all complaints about Qantas reported to the ACCC.

Qantas said it takes these allegations by the ACCC seriously, but instantly tried to belittle the accusations by the ACCC by saying 'the period examined by the ACCC between May and July 2022 was a time of unprecedented upheaval for the entire airline industry'  Qantas also blamed it on COVID, saying it had struggled to restart following the pandemic "We openly acknowledge that our service standards fell well short and we sincerely apologise. We have worked hard to fix them since and that work continues."

"We will examine the details of the ACCC’s allegations and respond to them in full in court." the carrier said.

Virgin Australia boss blames sky high fares on lack of competition....

According to reports from Down Under, the boss of the budget airline Virgin Australia is blaming the sky-high airfares in Australia firmly on the government for quashing competition in favour of national carrier Qantas. 

Jayne Hrdlicka released a video to staff commentating on the Australian government's decision not to allow the Doha-based Qatar Airways to operate more flights to and from Australia to help keep pace with demand.    

The video was leaked to Daily Mail Australia and shows Hrdlicka telling employees that the ban makes no sense and that restricting the number of international flights was pushing up the price of flights, which in some cases are now double.

The Australian economy was also being detrimentally affected by the decision as fewer tourists are returning to Australia due to the high fares and lack of capacity,  Hrdlicka contested in the video. 

Qatar's ability to easily operate extra flights would dramatically improve the situation but the request had been rejected by the federal government meaning bad news for Australia and Virgin Australia - a service partner of Qatar Airways. 

Australia's transport minister Catherine Knight denied the request from Qatar Airways to operate 28 additional flights, claiming in Parliament it was 'not in the national interest'.

Yet it follows from the news that Qantas boss Alan Joyce voiced his opposition to the move to his friend the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It was then that the cabinet blocked it according to some reports.

Relations of Anthony Albanese have recently received free hospitality from the national airline, including the PM's son Nathan and girlfriend Jodie Haydon given free membership of the Qantas Chairman's Lounge.

Qantas' Joyce defended the airline's complete opposition to Qatar's request saying 'What we said when it came to Qatar...was there shouldn’t be rights granted when there’s a huge amount of capacity being put back into the market".  Qantas has just announced a multi-million dollar order for more long-haul jets from Boeing and recently reported a profit of  $2.5 billion whilst a number of staff have had to take second jobs to supplement their income.  

Qantas' service partner is the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which hasn't had any capacity requests turned down by the Australian government.