AO(Australian Airlines) wet lease to QF- future?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: australia
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi everyone just want to add my comments. It is absolutely frustrating out on line at the moment. I keep hearing all sorts of stories like we will be offered LH here or there, MAM or flying here or there, the latest I heard was Canada, but honestly (and I'm not intentionally being rude) but where on earth do you actually get this information from? Does someone have an inside informer? I know this is a rumour web site but people are actually taking posts here as truth when in reality it is pure speculation. I'm serious, I have worked with crew who actually seem to take what they read here or hear elswhere as gospel. It's fine to speculate but I have noticed amongst crew, especially those that read this site that these "rumours" are being taken in the wrong context and causing anxiety. The fact is "Yes" something is brewing, that is obvious due to the loss of flying and no announced new flying (as yet) so lets just wait until we hear facts from QF management, there is no use speaking to our management because they are in exactly the same position we are. QF management will decide our future or fate and they are the only ones who hold the truth. Unless there is a "leaker" in the ranks I wouldn't believe or assume anything you hear. Enjoy your job as you always have, assume business as usual until you hear otherwise from the correct source. Mind you in our case it probably will be the Cairns Post and we will get an official letter the next day, however I hope you get my point.
Sorry to put a dampener on things but as I said it's every flight now I hear something about our future and I do know it's worrying and I know it's great to gossip about the latest speculation but thats really all it is.
Another thing, I read a lot of comparing "us to LH". I don't get it. We all do the same job, both departments have a cross section of employees, we both have extremely proffessional crew, we both also have a very small percentage who don't pull their weight. Unfortunately it's a fact of life in any job. It may be that we have experienced some bad crew on LH but we also have bad flights, however we are not even nearly subjected to the rosters that our LH collegues are. Our flying is easy, in fact the easiest on the whole network and the most lucrative. We have had it good for a long time. I would be very wary about future comments about comparing us to LH because as "speculation" has it you may just end up working with them.
Sorry to put a dampener on things but as I said it's every flight now I hear something about our future and I do know it's worrying and I know it's great to gossip about the latest speculation but thats really all it is.
Another thing, I read a lot of comparing "us to LH". I don't get it. We all do the same job, both departments have a cross section of employees, we both have extremely proffessional crew, we both also have a very small percentage who don't pull their weight. Unfortunately it's a fact of life in any job. It may be that we have experienced some bad crew on LH but we also have bad flights, however we are not even nearly subjected to the rosters that our LH collegues are. Our flying is easy, in fact the easiest on the whole network and the most lucrative. We have had it good for a long time. I would be very wary about future comments about comparing us to LH because as "speculation" has it you may just end up working with them.
Just updating the thread.....
Word is that Jetstar international are currently interviewing and applicants are being told that positions are based in Sydney, Melbourne and CAIRNS.
I guess it was inevitable. On the positive side, I guess it means AO boys and girls wont be required to hang orange in their wardrobes once again. Phew
Word is that Jetstar international are currently interviewing and applicants are being told that positions are based in Sydney, Melbourne and CAIRNS.
I guess it was inevitable. On the positive side, I guess it means AO boys and girls wont be required to hang orange in their wardrobes once again. Phew
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They are probably hiring some initial CNS base JQI staff so that they can be trained. Then of course, with their whole 4 months experience of flying will train the AO crew when they are forced into the JQ polo shirts.
Australian Airlines rocked.....I still can't believe what they did to the great airline it was
Australian Airlines rocked.....I still can't believe what they did to the great airline it was
I'm not convinced that theory is all that logical. They will not require anywhere near the amount of crew as AO have. Remember their schedule (and I realise it will change in the future) out of Cairns will be 10 departures per week.
Last edited by flitegirl; 24th Feb 2007 at 07:36. Reason: gm.
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Australia
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sonique,
Sounds reasonable. Just can't see why they want to keep CNS base after NGO/KIX are gone. But I guess until AO techie's EBA is finalised and signed off, our future is still in the limbo. Simply wish the company pull their fingers out, waiting is no fun any more, it's killing everyone's morale.
Sounds reasonable. Just can't see why they want to keep CNS base after NGO/KIX are gone. But I guess until AO techie's EBA is finalised and signed off, our future is still in the limbo. Simply wish the company pull their fingers out, waiting is no fun any more, it's killing everyone's morale.
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think Sydney could be a possiblity too. There seems to be more 767 flying out of there than BNE.
Another strong rumour is SYD - CGK.
Really once NGO and KIX are gone we will only have NRT out of CNS. Why keep the base operating up there for the sake of one destination which can be crewed from the destination of origin being BNE and SYD.
Personally I think NRT will go to J*I as soon as they have an aircratft spare to throw on the route, given JAL has approved for code sharing on J*I.
I'm sure we will find out in the not so distant future.
RaverFlaver
Another strong rumour is SYD - CGK.
Really once NGO and KIX are gone we will only have NRT out of CNS. Why keep the base operating up there for the sake of one destination which can be crewed from the destination of origin being BNE and SYD.
Personally I think NRT will go to J*I as soon as they have an aircratft spare to throw on the route, given JAL has approved for code sharing on J*I.
I'm sure we will find out in the not so distant future.
RaverFlaver
Last edited by RaverFlaver; 5th Mar 2007 at 04:24. Reason: Wording wrong way round
Join Date: May 2005
Location: feet on the ground
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
facts
the MEL base needs 400 F/a's for LH. Bne has too many in LH, as has SYD. Add ongoing LSL allocation and MEL looks like the logical choice for you AO guys. start packing some jumpers. At least there is a bit more choice.
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I understand how frustrating this is because I have been with QF for 30 years now and have seen them dithering time and time again.
You might go to Mel or Bne or anywhere for that matter however nothing is going to happen until (IF) the take over goes ahead.
Sonique..it does not matter how good you or your division is or are all that matters is how much money they think they will spend (save) and what their crystal ball tells them that day.
They are more than likely to move all of you to Mel and then 6 months later offer you are Cairns basing....nature of the beast.
Enjoy Cairns and make the most of it because it is a good spot to be and we know because we used to fly there and because of that we understand the only certainty in this job is that nothing stays the same for ever..unfortunately
You might go to Mel or Bne or anywhere for that matter however nothing is going to happen until (IF) the take over goes ahead.
Sonique..it does not matter how good you or your division is or are all that matters is how much money they think they will spend (save) and what their crystal ball tells them that day.
They are more than likely to move all of you to Mel and then 6 months later offer you are Cairns basing....nature of the beast.
Enjoy Cairns and make the most of it because it is a good spot to be and we know because we used to fly there and because of that we understand the only certainty in this job is that nothing stays the same for ever..unfortunately
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: australia
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
With all this talk on here about us going to BNE or MEL LH do we really believe that QF will employ us on mainline conditions and pay especially when the whole agenda at the moment is to "diminish" LH mainline conditions, especially with an EBA up for negotiation soon? My point of view only is no they wouldn't. The last thing QF management would want is another 200 or 300 so additional crew on those conditions (don't get me wrong I would love it) but I just cant see it. However I guess there is nothing to say that AO crew cant be relocated to any other base in Australia and we could become another employment agency just like MAM, hell we are pretty much like that anyway, except we cost more than MAM and have benefits, at least until the end of the year when our EBA is up too.
I still believe that what we are hearing is only speculation (as I said in my above post), however we have to remember that our pilots are "safe", regardless of what happens to AO, they slip back into Qantas. We as a team of cabin crew are the ones that have the most to lose. AO cant operate without pilots and as we all know all our pilots come from Qantas and we cant hire external pilots. AO Cabin Crew don't have a lot to fall back on if they close us down. I believe we will have a job somewhere but certainly not on LH pay and conditions. If we were to be relocated to say BNE or MEL as AO and cross crewing on different a/c types etc what happens to our CSM's? Understandably I can't see a great deal of respect from local based crew's who are waiting for that position only to be bumped. Will they have to go back to FA? I'm sure many would to keep their job.
Anyway, lets not get too excited, time will tell and one lesson I have learned in this industry is it is completely out of your control.
I still believe that what we are hearing is only speculation (as I said in my above post), however we have to remember that our pilots are "safe", regardless of what happens to AO, they slip back into Qantas. We as a team of cabin crew are the ones that have the most to lose. AO cant operate without pilots and as we all know all our pilots come from Qantas and we cant hire external pilots. AO Cabin Crew don't have a lot to fall back on if they close us down. I believe we will have a job somewhere but certainly not on LH pay and conditions. If we were to be relocated to say BNE or MEL as AO and cross crewing on different a/c types etc what happens to our CSM's? Understandably I can't see a great deal of respect from local based crew's who are waiting for that position only to be bumped. Will they have to go back to FA? I'm sure many would to keep their job.
Anyway, lets not get too excited, time will tell and one lesson I have learned in this industry is it is completely out of your control.
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Doris...The company has 3 options..
Things stay the way they are...possible but unlikely
You are shut down.....Which I hope is unlikely and because there is still flying that you do.
You are relocated to another base...I believe this is the most likely.
I don't think your award is an issue as S/H and L/H both cross crew with different crew on different awards..some cheaper than the other.
MAM work with permanent S/H
AKL and Thai based crew work with L/H
In any case our EBA is also up at the end of the year so it's not impossible that we all end up on the same award and fly together....
As I said before the company does not know on a Friday what they are going to do on a Monday.
Things stay the way they are...possible but unlikely
You are shut down.....Which I hope is unlikely and because there is still flying that you do.
You are relocated to another base...I believe this is the most likely.
I don't think your award is an issue as S/H and L/H both cross crew with different crew on different awards..some cheaper than the other.
MAM work with permanent S/H
AKL and Thai based crew work with L/H
In any case our EBA is also up at the end of the year so it's not impossible that we all end up on the same award and fly together....
As I said before the company does not know on a Friday what they are going to do on a Monday.
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: north
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes Lobe, for once you might be onto something. With a possible new owner, you might find yourself working for a "NEW L/H" . One that starts getting back all international ops because it's cost base is competitive again.
Last edited by mid assist; 11th Mar 2007 at 11:42.
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sydney
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heard a pilot who's contract is up for renewal in the next couple of months asked one of the 'pilot managers' that in order to decide he needs to know more about what's going to happen with AO. Managers response was apparently all will be revealed before time to renew contract...
Also heard that certain cabin crew manager was in the big smoke discussing viability of Cairns base. Possibility of southern city becoming AO base.
Heard all this before though! Happy travels all...
Also heard that certain cabin crew manager was in the big smoke discussing viability of Cairns base. Possibility of southern city becoming AO base.
Heard all this before though! Happy travels all...
Registered User **
Join Date: May 2005
Location: The Ultimate Crew Rest....
Age: 69
Posts: 2,346
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
mid assist...I think your beginning to understand...Both of us are in the same boat when it comes to cost base.
Unfortunately the company has found other ways to reduce this.This is why L/H is losing flying ,S/H is being diluted with casuals (MAMS) and AO is no longer with us...
The company has no problem finding people wanting to fly and who are willing to accept less pay for it.
We all might find ourselves in a new division or maybe if we end up on S/H conditions maybe just one !!!!
My point to Air Doris though was to sit back and enjoy the life up in Cairns..
Unfortunately the company has found other ways to reduce this.This is why L/H is losing flying ,S/H is being diluted with casuals (MAMS) and AO is no longer with us...
The company has no problem finding people wanting to fly and who are willing to accept less pay for it.
We all might find ourselves in a new division or maybe if we end up on S/H conditions maybe just one !!!!
My point to Air Doris though was to sit back and enjoy the life up in Cairns..
Last edited by lowerlobe; 11th Mar 2007 at 23:42.
If we were to be relocated to say BNE or MEL as AO and cross crewing on different a/c types etc what happens to our CSM's?....Will they have to go back to FA?
Air Doris, I like your thought process. There's a small proportion of CMs at AO who could benefit from a down grade in category as they perhaps shouldn't have been there to begin with
Air Doris, I like your thought process. There's a small proportion of CMs at AO who could benefit from a down grade in category as they perhaps shouldn't have been there to begin with