Trade scared of Qantas?
It is amazing how many in the industry have contacted The Mole over the last week or so regarding the Qantas fuel levy/multiples/threats debacle, but equally amazing is how many have said, don’t quote me, this is off the record or this is not for publication, etc, etc.
So, what does The Mole conclude that means?
Well, The Mole reckons that sounds like they are all scared of Qantas and the flying kangaroo’s cohorts, inclding perhaps AFTA.
Times they may be a changing though with a majority of agents now coming out against Qantas, Singapore and Cathay, by not opting out of the Class action and as one agent told The Mole yesterday, telling Qantas and the others to “stick it”.
One contributor, who asked not to be named contacted me yesterday and said,
“Off the record please!” “Not for publication.”
……and I am honouring that by not revealing his or her name……….
This what they said…………….
“I read the comments regarding AFTA and Qantas today and it reminded me of an unconfirmed report from an ‘Industry Insider’ who has forgotten more about the workings of these things than we all have ever known.”
“That is that there will be no condemnation of Qantas from AFTA as this would affect the FOC 1st class tickets that the CEO and some board members get allocated.” “Mike Hatton would not give up seat 1A for anyone.”
“Perhaps a little investigative journalism on someone’s part would unearth the number of overseas trips that AFTA executives have had in the past 5 years, with what airlines and what they paid for them?”
“Or if my sources are correct ‘didn’t’ pay for.”
“Despite that, they would no doubt say that the trips to UFFTA etc, etc are a necessary expenditure and Qantas have always been tremendously supportive of the board’s travel requirements, but surely they can see (that blind man again) that by not using other carriers a conflict of interest could apply.”
“Certainly not so from the Qantas point of view as Dixon and his allies on the QF Board could see no conflict of interest in recommending a takeover bid to shareholders that would have benefited them many millions of windfall dollars!”
“Go follow the story.” “Ask the hard questions!”
So guys at Qantas and AFTA, how about coming clean, answering the hard questions and revealing the stats on TravelMole?
How many seats did Qantas provide to AFTA last year, to who, in what class, at what cost or FOC and what other airlines did the same?
We all look forward to seeing the results!
As to the contributor that provided this comment – thank you and hey I didn’t use your name did I! Your anonimity is guaranteed.
All guaranteed to remain anonymous contributions welcomed – please email to [email protected]
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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