Qantas & Rex - The gloves are off

[Dave Parer]

It's war on the TSV-MKY-TSV route where Rex has just started ops in competition with QF. Articles from the Townsville Bulletin;

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/10/14/86391_news.html

http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/10/15/86691_news.html

[lloyd fox]

Qantaslink has reduced services to Weipa,Horn island and 2 western queensland ports to increase flights between TSV-MKY .I suspect those towns are not too happy.

[Hugh Jarse]

Typical Qantaslink. Always reactive, never proactive in growing their routes.:mad:

[Justin L]

Different markets I know, but QFLink failed when entering ADL-PLO and ADL-KGC against Rex. It will be interesting to follow this TSV-MKY battle.

[Mike W]

Typical Qantaslink. Always reactive, never proactive in growing their routes.:mad:

Typical of all of Qantas these days I'm afraid. :(

[Hugh Jarse]

Indeed, Mike.

Justin, what the players won't tell you (for fear of reprisals from the ACCC) is that QF and REX most likely colluded on the pullout of SA ops.

Lets see who pulls out of the FNQ routes first :D

[Mike W]

It's all about route economics and that is the bottom line...

Hence Jetstar and why it's taken over so many QF routes. That's the Qantas that has evolved now.

My point though isn't necessarily about costs and economics. It's about innovation and opportunity. Remember QF was the Airline to invent J class. What happened to that Qantas Andrew?

[Jim W]

Different markets I know, but QFLink failed when entering ADL-PLO and ADL-KGC against Rex. It will be interesting to follow this TSV-MKY battle.

Not sure QF failed on the ADL-PLO route - loads were high from what I am told by council - they were baffled as to why QF pulled out so soon after starting. However, REX pulled out of a market in Tasmania about the same time and left that to QF - draw your own conclusions!

[Daniel G]

Why wouldn't Qantas try and push them out? It's not a teddy bears picnic :rolleyes:

[Mike W]

Mike - would you please define for me what you determine as 'innovation'?

I'm taking from your post that since the creation of J class, Qantas is not or has not innovated in any area of its business?

And also, talk more about your reference to 'opportunity'? Does Qantas not seek opportunities? I suppose the resumption of services to EZE was not capitalising on 'opportunities'? I assume using their low cost vehicle of JQ to enter new markets is not seeking new 'opportunities'?

Hi Andrew, in this case I would classify innovation mixed with opportunity as doing something different, something aspirational to customers that would be beneficial to both airline and passenger, (such as J class). I cannot recollect (feel free to enlighten) QF doing anything "innovative' recently other than opportunistic "me too" type activity, such as Jetstar (in response to DJ) low fares to the US (in response to V Aus and Delta), Premium Ecomomy (in response to NZ and VA... I'm sure this barely scatches the surface.

I do not classify new routes (where they have the opportunity to charge a fortune) as innovative.

QF have a glorious past of innovation not over 90 odd years but alas, it seems only the first 70 or so.

This however, is only my opinion so feel free to comment. ;)

[Andrew M]

Remember QF was the Airline to invent J class. What happened to that Qantas Andrew?

Customers have voted with their wallets. You need to blame the consumer for the success of Tiger, Jetstar and the like.

If customers were willing to pay that little bit more then standards would have remained high.

[Mike W]

here's an example of the kind of "innovation" that QF use to be reknown for but not now.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/10/29/334078/air-new-zealand-looking-at-seat-beds-in-economy-class.html

Air New Zealand looking at seat-beds in economy class

Air New Zealand could be set to revolutionise long-haul economy travel when it takes its new Boeing 777-300ERs from late 2010 by offering passengers seat-beds.

The Star Alliance carrier's international group general manager Ed Sims has told an investor's briefing that ANZ's new 777-300ERs might have economy-class seats that can covert into seat-beds, according to news reports in New Zealand.

The seat-beds take up two economy-class seats and will only be offered to passengers who have an empty seat next to them, add the reports. People will be offered the seat-bed upon check-in at a charge of NZ$150 ($112), they say.

The airline has declined to confirm the report, saying it is still "in the middle of research and development" for ANZ's new long-haul product.

The new interior cabins and seating will appear in late 2010 when the new 777-300ERs start arriving, it adds. ANZ says it is also redesigning its aircraft livery, uniforms and "a whole range of other products".

An official at ANZ's aircraft interiors business, Altitude, confirms it will be making the new interiors for the 777-300ERs but declines to comment on details