Page 37 - AAA JULY-AUGUST 2012 Online Magazine

AIRLINES

Qantas at a loss
Qantas CEO Alan Joyce blamed global Skymark skylark

economic factors, increased fuel costs, a Want to fly on an airline that won’t that they might not always use “polite
strong Australian dollar and local union help you with your luggage, doesn’t language”, and that they were only there
action for the airline’s poor performance want to be polite and won’t deal with to serve as safety personnel. An annoyed
last year. Consequently, Joyce has customer complaints? Nor do the Tokyo Tokyo Metropolitan Government filed a
promised big stick action. “We have authorities, apparently. Japanese LCC complaint to Consumer Affairs Agency,
taken decisive action to mitigate losses Skymark recently posted notices on its and the airline backed down and removed
... by withdrawing from loss-making aircraft explaining that cabin staff would the advisory notices. It’s not known if
routes, reducing capital investment, and not help passengers stow their bags, cabin staff now behave any differently.
transforming Qantas engineering,” he
said, referring to the US$100 million cost
of the recent lockout that also hit hard. Mandala back to
The company promises a new group international
structure that will “bring further rigour
to our business,” he added. However, Indonesia-based Mandala Airlines
fuel costs are expected to reach US$4.4 made its first international flight since
billion, up US$700 million on last year. it was relaunched earlier this year -
from Medan to Singapore. “Mandala
Holiday bonus Airlines is excited to serve the Indonesian Lumpur and Jakarta-Singapore, but
community once again, and our current
To take advantage of Singaporeans LCC business model provides consumers sees its move onto the Medan (the
fleeing their National Day celebrations more options for safe and reliable air fourth largest city in Indonesia) to
in August, Tiger Airways will add travel,” said Mandala Airlines’ President Singapore route as highly significant,
extra flights to some destinations Director, Mike Coltman. The airline also and is backing its confidence with
in Malaysia and China. It will boost flies Jakarta-Medan, Jakarta-Kuala seven flights a week.
flights to Kuching and Penang to
twice a day, and increase schedules class airline, and over the past 24 months
to Haikou, Hainan, up to five times a we have made significant progress with
week, although some bad press over our turnaround plan,” said Air Pacific’s
recent delays and cancellations could Managing Director and CEO David Pflieger.
impact numbers. “With the increased The plan includes strategic partnerships
frequencies to Kuching and Penang with Singapore Airlines Engineering
over the Hari Raya Puasa season, Company (SIAEC) for the maintenance
our customers will find it easier to of its three new A330-200 aircraft (due in
make plans to celebrate and spend Pacific no longer June 2013) that will offer increased flights
time with family and friends over the Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline, is to between Fiji and Sydney up to 13 times
holiday season,” said Stewart Adams, rebrand and revamp itself – and go back weekly. The new aircraft will feature USB
Managing Director of Tiger Airways to its original Fiji Airways naming. “Air and power outlets for computers, iPads,
Singapore. Pacific has a vision to become a best-in- iPods, and similar on all seats.

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