Qantas alters operations

The Qantas Group has declared that it will overcome the difficult economic road ahead, by changing its operations in the New Zealand, China and India markets, e-Travel Blackboard reported.

Qantas Group CEO, Mr Alan Joyce, said Qantas has continued to review its international operations since the global economic situation began to deteriorate last year.

“Airlines around the world are confronting significantly changed operating conditions and have to ensure capacity is best matched to demand,” he said.

“The Qantas Group is performing well in this difficult environment, but we are not immune from the need to address under-performing routes.

“We are reluctantly making changes to our China and India schedules, but will continue to offer significant capacity into both countries as they remain important business and leisure markets.

“These changes are about adjusting our schedules to meet the needs of those markets alongside our own need to generate reasonable returns on our operations.”

Mr Joyce also announced that Qantas’ New Zealand and Trans-Tasman schedule will be significantly altered.

These changes will include the launch of Jetstar domestic operations in New Zealand, together with significant increases in Qantas’ trans-Tasman frequency and product.

“New Zealand is a key market for the Qantas Group, and we are a large employer there. These changes will consolidate our presence in New Zealand, and follow our recent move to expand our Auckland Telephone Sales call centre to service customers from the United Kingdom, South Africa and United States.

“Our proven two-brand model, with Qantas and Jetstar, enables the Qantas Group to respond to market challenges and opportunities more flexibly than competitors.

“The dynamics of the New Zealand domestic and trans-Tasman markets, however, are unique and particularly in the current environment, we need to be flexible to ensure we remain competitive.

“This means applying our two brand strategy and utilising the right airline, with the right cost base and product, for the right market, to offer competitive, sustainable services.”

“Our history across the Tasman goes back to 1940, we launched New Zealand domestic services in 2001 and we have been a major contributor to the country’s economy and tourism industry for many years,” he said.

From 10 June, the Qantas Group will operate more than 140 trans-Tasman weekly return services between Australia and Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown, as well as a daily B747-400 service between Auckland and Los Angeles.

Qantas will operate its last domestic New Zealand service on Tuesday 9 June, with Jetstar to commence services on Wednesday 10 June.

Jetstar’s domestic network will cover Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Queenstown- this change in operations means that the Qantas Group will no longer offer services to Rotorua. 

Mr Joyce said that Qantas’ New Zealand subsidiary, Jetconnect which operates a fleet of B737

aircraft, would focus its operations on the Tasman from 10 June.

“Jetconnect’s current fleet will be progressively upgraded, initially with three new next generation B737-800s to be delivered between September and November,” Mr Joyce said.

The investment in new aircraft wills ee the last B737-300s retired from the Qantas fleet, “The B737-800 aircraft will be used on both the Sydney-Auckland and Melbourne-Auckland routes, offering 12 Business and 156 Economy class seats, individual in-seat video screens for every passenger and new seating styled by Qantas Creative Director Marc Newson.”

Mr Joyce said both Qantas and Jetstar were firmly focused on making the transition between operations as seamless as possible and that customers booked on Qantas domestic New Zealand services from 10 June would be contacted and booked on alternate flights.

Qantas will codeshare on the new Jetstar domestic New Zealand service for all customers holding a Qantas international and/or trans-Tasman sector in the same itinerary.

The changes in operations are expected to increase employment levels in Qantas Group, New Zealand. 

“Group employment levels will increase, however there will be an impact on Qantas jobs in Christchurch and, to a lesser extent, Wellington,” Mr Joyce said.

“There will be some opportunities for Qantas and Jetconnect employees to take up positions with Jetstar. For those who do not, we will offer appropriate separation packages and support.”

Source: Transportweekly