This Month
Jetstar CEO says low-cost carrier is glimpse into Qantas’ future
It’s the low-cost airline everyone loves to hate, but Stephanie Tully says that’s changed and being part of Qantas means a lot of benefit from economies of scale.
- Ayesha de Kretser
November
Virgin’s plan to fly Qatar planes poised for ACCC green light
The Bain-backed airline hopes to fly the Gulf carrier’s Boeing 777s to Doha in a return to long-haul international services from the middle of next year.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Female bosses are paid $159k less than men
Female chief executives and heads of business are paid an average of $158,632 less than their male counterparts, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.
- Euan Black
October
Joe Aston on Qantas: ‘This is a story about power in the shadows’
This week on The Fin podcast, Joe Aston on what went wrong for the airline, why it has an oversized influence in Canberra, and the extraordinary perks of a Qantas board seat.
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Qantas finds clearer air, but its past must fuel longer turnaround
The airline’s annual general meeting highlighted good progress, but the mistakes of the past should continue to shape the next stage of its comeback.
- James Thomson
Qantas faces $100m-plus hit for illegal sackings
The case is shaping up as the biggest industrial relations loss in Australia’s history.
- David Marin-Guzman and Ayesha de Kretser
Proxy adviser tells shareholders to rebuke Qantas on exec pay
At least one influential proxy adviser, ISS, is not content with cutting Alan Joyce’s pay by $9 million.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Alan Joyce to keep flying on Qantas dime for more than two decades
The former chief executive is entitled to perks worth millions of dollars, as Richard Goyder makes the most use of his free flights this year.
- Ayesha de Kretser
September
Qantas pilots to vote on pay freeze offer (worth 30pc more)
Short-haul pilots are the last group of the airline’s employees to vote on enterprise agreements since the pandemic, when wages were frozen across all entities.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Domestic airfares jump after collapse of Rex
The demise of the regional carrier is more bad news for travellers as domestic raise fares and Qantas lifts its fees for changing bookings.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Qantas raises the cost of changing tickets by a whopping 20pc
The airline, which last year pledged to make it easier for travellers to modify flights, says it’s the first time it’s changed this particular fee since 2017.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Airlines and Melbourne Airport headed for runway funding feud
Vanessa Hudson says Melbourne Airport needs to wait until “the demand is there” before building a third runway and charging airlines and their passengers to pay for it.
- Jenny Wiggins and Ayesha de Kretser
- Exclusive
- Aviation
Coalition wants powers to force Qantas to divest Jetstar
Though the Opposition is not calling for the low-budget airline to be sold, it thinks the threat will push the country’s largest carrier to lower prices.
- Ayesha de Kretser
August
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Qantas’ profit drop is a good sign for Hudson. But new tests loom
Chief executive Vanessa Hudson has walked the tightrope between customers, staff and shareholders. But will the economy make her turnaround harder?
- Updated
- James Thomson
- Updated
- Earnings season
Qantas deflects Qatar factor, readies for more competition
The airline reported $2.1 billion in earnings last financial year, down 18 per cent from a record result in 2023.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Aviation white paper arrives late, and lacks action on competition
More delayed than a flight from Sydney to Melbourne, the white paper lets the airlines off the hook.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Updated
- Aviation
Qantas board failed to challenge Joyce’s ‘command and control’
Qantas’ incoming chairman John Mullen said bonus practices at the airline had been problematic as the board was unable to override “the formulaic results of a compensation scheme” if there was a major scandal.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser and James Thomson
How the Qantas board fell for the cult of Alan Joyce
A scathing review of the national carrier’s board tells the story of a highly successful chief executive whose growing power was not adequately challenged. It ended badly for everyone.
- Updated
- James Thomson
July
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Why Qantas isn’t a big winner from Rex turmoil
At first glance, Qantas looks the obvious winner from the turmoil at Rex. But the aviation sector’s comeback kid won’t be cheering this mess.
- James Thomson
June
Selling Sunrise: Inside Qantas’ 22-hour ultra-long-haul flight
Can Qantas boss Vanessa Hudson pull off her predecessor’s dream of non-stop travel between Sydney, Melbourne and London? Getting this right will be key.
- Ayesha de Kretser