RedQ firms as name for Qantas's new premium airline in Asia

[Mike P 0]

doubt now with the new airport charges n aircraft parking charges n pax tax that Qantas will seriously consider KLIA as a base for their new start-up - believed Changbi would be the best choice for them.

 

A little money won't affect their decision much. Considering Changi is still very very costly compared to KUL.

[flee 5]

I wonder how much it cost Qantas to park their crippled VH-OQA for so long?

[alberttky 0]

Qantas and BA announce JSA revamp

 

Qantas has announced a restructuring of its Joint Services Agreement with BA, as part of a major new “International Strategy” for the airline.

 

The carrier says the changes will “consolidate Singapore’s position as the primary hub for the JSA relationship”, with BA swapping its B777 aircraft serving the London-Singapore-Sydney service for a larger B747 jumbo.

 

Qantas will continue to serve routes from both Melbourne and Sydney to London (via Singapore) with its A380 superjumbo, and also plans to open a new lounge at Changi.

 

The restructuring will also see the two carriers concentrate on operating JSA services from their respective hubs - BA will stop operating flight sectors between Bangkok and Sydney from early 2012, while Qantas will no longer operate sectors between London and Bangkok/Hong Kong. The move will also see BA increase the frequency of its London-Hong Kong service to 17 per week (from 14).

 

The changes to the JSA is just one of several announcements being made by Qantas today, with others including:

 

* The creation of Jetstar Japan – a domestic Japanese low-cost carrier formed between Qantas, JAL and Mitsubishi Corporation

* A $400 million investment in new lounges, inflight entertainment and refurbishment of its B747 aircraft

* The introduction of direct flights between Sydney and Santiago from next year, replacing the carrier’s current service to Buenos Aires

* The purchase of up to 110 new A320 aircraft, the retirement of four B747s, and the deferral of the carrier’s final six A380 aircraft by up to six years

* The loss of around 1,000 jobs as a result of the retirement of older aircraft and network changes. Qantas says it will look to “minimise the number of compulsory redundancies wherever possible”.

 

 

http://www.businesstraveller.com/news/qantas-and-ba-announce-jsa-revamp

 

Looks like it's going to SIN instead...

[Raymund Yeoh 1]

With this JSA with BA..........one wonders if the Qantas offshoot will still take off in Msia.....

[Mike P 0]

Qantas and the Asiafication of Australia

COMMENTS

 

Qantas sponsors national sports teams, like the Wallabies, the Socceroos and Australia's Olympians

Few private companies engender quite the same sense of public ownership as Australia's national flag carrier, Qantas.

 

The airline has encouraged this, of course, with its sentimental advertisements featuring the Peter Allen hit, I Still Call Australia Home, and its sponsorship of national sports teams, like the Wallabies, the Socceroos and Australia's Olympians.

 

When Cadel Evans recently made his homecoming to Melbourne after winning the Tour de France, Qantas mounted a sham photo opportunity timed to coincide with the breakfast news shows that showed him coming down the steps of a parked Airbus A380, even though he had actually touched down on another plane earlier in the morning.

 

Now Qantas stands accused of a much more egregious pretence: of planning to use Australia not so much as a home but as a lay-over. It follows the announcement of a corporate-restructuring that will see the expansion of the airline's operations in Asia, big changes to its struggling international operations and the loss of 1,000 jobs from its 35,000-strong workforce.

 

Qantas plans to launch two Asia-based airlines, including a budget airline operating out of Japan. It has not decided where to base its other so far nameless joint-venture, though Singapore and Kuala Lumpur are potential hubs.

 

 

Qantas plans to launch two Asia-based airlines, including a budget airline operating out of Japan

The airline, which made a healthy pre-tax profit on the back of its domestic routes, says it has no other choice because its international operations are set to lose $A200m ($208m, £126m). It has been hit by short-term factors like high fuel costs and natural disasters, including volcanic ash clouds.

 

But it faces long-term structural challenges. Australia's open skies policy has seen the expansion of Middle Eastern and Asian carriers, like Emirates and Singapore Airlines, which has eaten into its market share.

 

The announcement has inflamed parliamentarians. "I think it's official, Qantas can no longer call Australia home," said Senator Nick Xenophon.

 

Queensland MP Bob Katter - he of the 10-gallon hat - went further, sounding like a furious passenger who had just arrived at the end of a 23-hour flight to London only to discover that his luggage was in Sao Paulo.

 

"The people that make these decisions in Sydney are the slithering suits, as I call them, but for a bunch of brainless bastards there'd be few people in the world that would compare with them."

 

Like I say, the very word Qantas - which started life as the Queensland and Northern Territory Services Limited - unleashes strong passions.

 

The Spirit of Asia?

Lawmakers are now combing through the Qantas Sales Act, the legislation that brought about the airline's privatisation in the 1990s, to see if the restructuring violates the clause ruling that the airline needs to maintain Australia as its operational base.

 

“

Start Quote

 

There are many, many millions of premium travellers in waiting”

 

Alan Joyce

Qantas chief executive

Meanwhile, the unions are bemoaning what they are calling the offshoring of Australian jobs, even though the airline says that the 1,000 posts are disappearing rather than being relocated elsewhere.

 

For our purposes, the restructuring of the airline is interesting for what it says about the globalisation of the domestic economy and the continuing Asiafication of Australia. Others have written that Qantas's famous motto The Spirit of Australia should now read The Spirit of Australasia. But perhaps the airline should even go further and paint The Spirit of Asia on its planes.

 

For Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce this is simply a case of chasing an emerging market. Over the next 20 years, 16% of the world's middle-class will be in East Asia.

 

"China may already have the world's fourth-largest population of millionaires, and India the 12th," he said. "There are many, many millions of premium travellers in waiting."

 

By 2014, the Asia-Pacific region will account for a third of global air traffic - up 26% from now.

 

Tellingly and symbolically, Qantas has cut two unprofitable routes to London, operating out of Bangkok and Hong Kong - another indication of Australia's reorientation.

 

The competition that Qantas now faces from airlines like Emirates also speaks of the opening up, deregulation and globalisation of the Australian economy.

 

Why, Etihad, the Gulf-based airline, even has naming rights on Melbourne's indoor Docklands stadium. Also gone are the days when Qantas had a near stranglehold on the lucrative trans-Pacific route. It was a duopoly shared with the American carrier United. Signed in 2008, the open skies agreement between Washington and Canberra ended all that.

 

As people will have noticed during Alan Joyce's media blitz this week, Qantas is also run by an Irishman, just as Telstra, the telecommunications giant, was run up until recently by an American. Again, it speaks of the internationalisation of Australian corporate life. ANZ, one of the main banks, is run by a Brit. Westpac is run by Gail Kelly, an Australian of South African descent.

 

Many aviation specialists believe that Qantas has brought many of its problems on itself, through bad decision-making.

 

Geoffrey Thomas of Air Transport Journal told the ABC's The World Today: "One of the reasons they've lost so much market share into this country is because they were the last major airline to put seat-back videos into economy, they didn't choose the right aeroplanes, and they were one of the last airlines to put premium economy into their aircraft despite the fact that Australians are the second-tallest people in the world flying the longest distances."

 

But many aviation specialists believe that the airline has no other option but to expand into Asia if it is to remain viable as an international operator.

 

Paul Keating once said that if Australia could not succeed in Asia it could not succeed anywhere. Evidently, the same now is true of Qantas.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14573494

[Mike P 0]

Qantas Gets Nod To Form Alliance With American Airlines

August 22, 2011 18:34 PM

MELBOURNE, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Qantas Airways' bid to forge closer ties with other airlines, including Malaysia Airlines (MAS), is a step closer after the competition regulator approved a joint-venture with American Airlines (AA).

 

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said the two carriers could work together on trans-Pacific flights, including scheduling, marketing, pricing, revenue management and bidding for corporate contracts.

 

There was also the possibility of new and improved routes under the joint business agreement (JBA), according to the ACCC's draft determination released Monday.

 

The commission said the JBA was "unlikely to result in any public detriment."

 

Its chairman, Rod Sims, said the ACCC did not consider that the JBA would have any anti-competitive effects, as Qantas and American Airlines did not currently provide any overlapping direct services between Australia and the US.

 

Currently, AA places its code on Qantas' flights between Australia and the US, such as Melbourne-Los Angeles, Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth and Sydney-Honolulu.

 

The two carriers also codeshare on selected flights within each other's domestic networks.

 

The Australian Associated Press reported that Qantas chief executive, Alan Joyce, said last week Qantas was keen to deepen its partnerships with other airlines and increase flying into regional "gateways" as part of turning around its loss-making regional operations.

 

As an example, Joyce cited new services this year from Australia to Dallas/Fort Worth, the largest hub city of fellow one world alliance member American Airlines.

 

Qantas was also looking to establish ties with MAS.

 

http://aviation.bernama.com/news.php?id=609664&lang=en&cat=b

[Izanee 0]

I think MAS and QF collaboration makes much more sense than MAS and AK. Or am I just talking rubbish?

[Isaac 0]

I think MAS and QF collaboration makes much more sense than MAS and AK. Or am I just talking rubbish?

You are not alone here

[Pieter C. 5]

Among the measure that Qantas has announced yesterday is its plan to offer one-stop services between Australia and Amsterdam, Rome and Istanbul with oneworld member-elect Malaysia Airlines.

 

This can only mean one thing : Qantas is almost certain to operate from Australia to Kuala Lumpur using its own metal ... a one-stop services to these three destinations is not possible if it relies on its present services to Singapore.

 

Why not code-share on MH metal ? SYD/MEL/PER-KUL-AMS/FCO/IST all the way on MH metal but with QF-code ? Bye-bye KL code-share !!!

Even more reason for me to believe, KL and GA will code-share soon on the AMS-Aussie routes via CGK...

[Mike P 0]

Why not code-share on MH metal ? SYD/MEL/PER-KUL-AMS/FCO/IST all the way on MH metal but with QF-code ? Bye-bye KL code-share !!!

Even more reason for me to believe, KL and GA will code-share soon on the AMS-Aussie routes via CGK...

 

I think only if KL will make a non-stop to CGK. It would be quite tiring to make two stops or more to travel all the way from Europe to Australia.

[KC Sim 2]

Why not code-share on MH metal ? SYD/MEL/PER-KUL-AMS/FCO/IST all the way on MH metal but with QF-code ? Bye-bye KL code-share !!!

Even more reason for me to believe, KL and GA will code-share soon on the AMS-Aussie routes via CGK...

 

Indeed, this is indeed possible and probably the most likely scenario. But for an airline that sponsored MAS' entry into oneworld, I am certain many - including those from Malaysia Airports Berhad and others in the tourism industry - were hoping that Qantas operates ite own metal into KUL.

 

Remains to be seen which route Qantas takes in fulfilling its ambition to offer onestop services between Australia and the three cities.

 

KC Sim

[leon t 0]

believed that QF will chose SIN over KUL for its new premium start-up as even if KUL maybe marginally cheaper, but it still lacks the pax traffic esp for premium pax and secondly KUl is still not a major Hub. And besides not sure if the govt will allow a new foreign airline to use its traffic rights, and at the expense of MH or even ak now.

[Mike P 0]

believed that QF will chose SIN over KUL for its new premium start-up as even if KUL maybe marginally cheaper, but it still lacks the pax traffic esp for premium pax and secondly KUl is still not a major Hub. And besides not sure if the govt will allow a new foreign airline to use its traffic rights, and at the expense of MH or even ak now.

 

It would be narrow minded for the Govt to restrict QF to operate in KUL. They have to use their ingenuity to resolve such matter and enhance more competitive and healthy aviation market in the region.

 

QF has already expressed interest to have JSA with the OneWorld members, other BA and AA recently, MH is also in the loop. Why can't the government propose it and take this advantage to prove KUL is a viable hub and how could MH support QF in the JSA to open up the possibilities. It would be a win-win situation and if both KUL (MAHB) and MH made it, it would definitely benefit both. If this operation successful, not only MH could recover from the ailing and money losing ordeal, while KUL would have proven its strategic hub and therefore attract more airlines.

[alberttky 0]

It would be narrow minded for the Govt to restrict QF to operate in KUL. They have to use their ingenuity to resolve such matter and enhance more competitive and healthy aviation market in the region.

 

QF has already expressed interest to have JSA with the OneWorld members, other BA and AA recently, MH is also in the loop. Why can't the government propose it and take this advantage to prove KUL is a viable hub and how could MH support QF in the JSA to open up the possibilities. It would be a win-win situation and if both KUL (MAHB) and MH made it, it would definitely benefit both. If this operation successful, not only MH could recover from the ailing and money losing ordeal, while KUL would have proven its strategic hub and therefore attract more airlines.

 

Cuz the garment has too much on their plate at the moment and don't know what to do. Also I think QF wants to bring the fight to SQ's doorstep, having recently announced it's partnership with Virgin. QF already invested tonnes of money in their lounges in SIN, and recently announced another $10M for renovation. Frankly I think the relationship between CAAS and QF is far more cordial. I look forward to seeing this airline in SIN.

[Mike P 0]

Cuz the garment has too much on their plate at the moment and don't know what to do. Also I think QF wants to bring the fight to SQ's doorstep, having recently announced it's partnership with Virgin. QF already invested tonnes of money in their lounges in SIN, and recently announced another $10M for renovation. Frankly I think the relationship between CAAS and QF is far more cordial. I look forward to seeing this airline in SIN.

 

That's all the presumption could be made. We're talking about business, if we presume every business opportunity could run away and therefore making no effort to approach, what kind of business are we doing? The only way to make a business successful is always make the first approach, you have that assumption is good but how are you going to prove yourself worthy to your client is again another story.

[leon t 0]

hi Mike P - well if this is a really business decision without politics then it will always be a good thing - but then again this is Malaysia and its abt using the govt limited air traffic rights and its also abt the got and MH/AK, so its never a purely biz situation - unlike at Changi and the sin govt's stand on maintaining Changi as a hub and even at the expense of SQ if nec to maintain it - hence its open competition in sin.

[flee 5]

Yes, Singapore recognises that it is a port city. So both the airport and the sea port is highly important to the country. SQ is only one company and the Singapore govt. knows that one company does not make a whole industry. They have the big picture in view.

 

The Malaysian govt. always looks at things with a very narrow perspective - hence the lack of success at MH and many other GLCs.

 

I think that whether QF chooses SIN or KUL also depends on how liberal each govt. will be with the new airline. In this respect, the Malaysian govt. is miles behind Singapore's. So it looks increasingly likely that QFs new airline will be SIN based...

[Mike P 0]

If Malaysia Government doesn't change and innovate, Malaysia is always far far behind Singapore. Not only in terms of aviation, but also other industries fields.

 

Just like Proton, eventually still needs Mitshubishi's help to support.

 

I work in TM, also one of the GLCs, TM may be the last ranked in Malaysia Telecommunication's industry. But still, TM is the backbone of every network, TM still strive to fight with other Telco operators or even recently collaborates with Maxis to give 3Gs services.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

SIN definitely has the premium market that'll make QF's premium airline plan work, but IMHO if the Malaysian government is smart enough and use their rarely-used brain to dangle a carrot in front of the Aussies in the shape of a stake in Sapphire & other incentives in KUL, then they might be tempted to swing this way.

 

That's a VERY BIG if though.

[Cheng Long 0]

SIN definitely has the premium market that'll make QF's premium airline plan work, but IMHO if the Malaysian government is smart enough and use their rarely-used brain to dangle a carrot in front of the Aussies in the shape of a stake in Sapphire & other incentives in KUL, then they might be tempted to swing this way.

 

That's a VERY BIG if though.

 

On the other hand, the Malaysian Gov actually expect the Aussies to dangle an even bigger carrot for them. If carrot tempting enough, then they will allow the Aussies to set up an airline in Malaysia..

[Izanee 0]

LOL ... you are right cheng long! only in malaysia do things work the other way round ..

[alberttky 0]

IT MAY not trip off the tongue like the Flying Kangaroo, but RedQ is emerging as the most likely name for Qantas's latest spin-off, an ultra-premium airline aimed at executives travelling in Asia.

 

Qantas is attempting to trademark the name, which branding experts say borrows heavily on its heritage but is distinct enough to signal the arrival of a new entrant in the global aviation game.

 

The company has kept under wraps the details of its plans for the executive jet-styled airline, but the Herald has learnt that Qantas's lawyers have lodged a range of trademark applications, including those for RedQ, RedQ Executive Express, RedSky and OneAsia.

 

Intellectual property specialists said Qantas seemed to favour RedQ Executive Flyer, because attempts were made in June to hasten its trademark process.

 

While red retains the connection to Qantas, it also symbolises good fortune and joy in Chinese culture. Although it will be based in Singapore or Malaysia, China will be a key market for the airline, which will have a fleet of 24 Airbus A320s within several years.

 

A director of the branding agency Principals, Wayde Bull, said the suggested names showed Qantas was trying to create something new but retain a link to the Qantas reputation.

 

Qantas considered more than a dozen names for its budget airline before settling on Jetstar.

 

''Qantas's brand strategy is becoming even more complex. They are seeking to create further brand names that have different price points than just Jetstar and Qantas,'' Mr Bull said.

 

However, Qantas could face opposition from its arch rival. Virgin Australia secured Red Jet as a trademark several years ago for the charity foundation it operates.

 

An intellectual property lawyer, Trevor Choy, said Virgin could oppose Qantas's attempts to trademark RedQ on the grounds it was too similar to its own Red Jet brand. Opponents of RedQ as a trademark will have three months from October to lodge their submissions.

 

Mr Choy said it could take Qantas as long as two years to trademark a name for its new Asian airline if it encountered opposition from other companies. The earliest the airline is expected to begin flying is late next year.

 

Qantas's corporate affairs chief, Olivia Wirth, confirmed it was assessing several different names - including RedQ and OneAsia - but a decision had not been made on which would be adopted.

 

Singapore Airlines has also tried to keep secret the name of its new long-haul budget airline - to be launched next year - but filings in Singapore show it has sought to trademark Scoot.

 

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/redq-firms-as-name-for-qantass-new-premium-airline-in-asia-20110912-1k61j.html#ixzz1XpcH2Oix

[alberttky 0]

Qantas confirms deal for 110 A320s

 

Qantas confirms deal for 110 A320s

 



Print

 

By: Siva Govindasamy Singapore

1 hours ago

Source:

 

 

 

Qantas Airways has finalised a contract for 110 Airbus A320 aircraft, including 78 A320neo.

 

The aircraft will be deployed across the Qantas Group on short-to-medium haul domestic and international operations, said Airbus and Australia's national carrier in a joint statement.

 

This order confirms a commitment for the A320s that Qantas announced on 16 August 2011.

 

The Oneworld alliance member has also confirmed that the A320 will be the aircraft used to launch a new premium airline based in Asia. Qantas is deciding between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur for the base of this new subsidiary.

 

All of the aircraft, including 32 regular A320s, will also be deployed across the Qantas Group's fleet. This includes its low-cost subsidiary Jetstar, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, and the upcoming Jetstar Japan.

 

Qantas has not selected an engine for the A320neo.

 

 

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/qantas-confirms-deal-for-110-a320s-362976/

[KC Sim 2]

I think KUL has a very real chance ... the below quote by Alan Joyce clearly shows his interest in a KUL-PER route.

 

"In terms of routing the good thing about the neo is that it can do everything the A320 can do today and then extends that range with both the sharklets and the engines when they come in in 2016. And that will allow routes like Melbourne, Sydney to Bali to be operated by narrow bodies; and routes like Singapore-Shanghai and Singapore-Beijing to be operated by narrow bodies. And also extends the range to make KL to the east coast (of Australia) a reality in a premium configuration."

 

http://www.aviationbusiness.com.au/news/qantas-explains-a320-neo-buy

 

KC Sim

[Sandeep G 1]

Another reason for making KL their choice - is apron space.

 

If you've been to Changi lately, you'll realise that this is something the airport could really do with more of. Attended a meeting yesterday whereby CAAS highlighted that in the last 12 months, delays (>15mins) have increased dramatically - owing to more than just apron space of course - but this would naturally be a major factor in Qantas' decision making. I'm not sure how KLIA measures up for non-technical delays, but as mentioned in another thread, ATC spacing & sequencing at KLIA could be enhanced with perhaps better infrastructure.

 

With regards to apron space - I think the go-ahead for QF in KUL and success in their business model could spell fortunes for the much beligned Satellite B complex. Plus... KLIA will have 3 dedicated runways for civil ops - something I think Changi might start drooling over.