The warning lights have been flashing at Qantas for more than 12 months. But after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched extraordinary legal action against the airline on Thursday, alleging it had sold tickets on 8,000 flights it had already cancelled, the cockpit alarms are now blaring.

Qantas chairman Richard Goyder and incoming chief executive Vanessa Hudson clearly face a difficult task to steer their airline back into clear skies.