Alan Joyce’s advice to budding airline CEO

As the self-appointed CEO of “new” Australian airline, young Alex wrote to Qantas boss Alan Joyce. Not only did he get a reply, he got a meeting.

Alex Jacquot, right, and his fellow airline executives meet at school in Sydney. Picture: John Feder

What Alex Jacquot lacks in age and experience, he more than makes up for with initiative.

As the self-appointed CEO of “new” Australian airline Oceania Express, 10-year-old Alex wrote to Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce to inform him of his plans and seek some advice.

“Do you have any tips on starting an airline? I’d be very grateful to know what you’d have to say,” he wrote.

ALEX’S LETTER: Mobile users click here to read the letter

Everyone but Alex was surprised when Mr Joyce wrote back, personally inviting the Sydney schoolboy to a meeting “between myself as the CEO of Australia’s oldest airline, and you, the CEO of Australia’s newest airline”.

“At this meeting we can compare notes on what it’s like to run an airline,” wrote Mr Joyce.

“And I’d like to offer you a tour of our operations centre (where we keep an eye on every Qantas flight, wherever they are in the world).”

Alex’s mother Natasha Jacquot said they were not expecting to get such a “great response”.

“We’re just waiting on some dates from them,” she said.

JOYCE’’S RESPONSE: Mobile users click here for Joyce’s letter

Her son’s fascination with aviation started at an early age, and had continued to grow with much thought and work going into “Oceania Express”.

“He’s got notebooks full of flight numbers, he’s sorted out the menus on different flights, he’s ­appointed a head of maintenance, a head of on-board services, a head of IT, a head of legal,” Ms Jacquot said.

“They have regular meetings at school planning whatever ­aspect they need to plan.”

Mr Joyce’s letter said he would not normally give advice to a potential rival, but he recognised something of a kindred spirit in Alex.

“I too was once a young boy who was so curious about flight and all its possibilities,” he wrote.