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| title =Qantas looking to revamp international check-in, lounges and menus, plus major 747 upgrade
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Revision as of 15:08, 19 January 2011

Qantas Airways
File:2007 Qantas Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
QF QFA QANTAS
Founded1920
HubsSydney Airport
Melbourne Airport
Secondary hubsBrisbane Airport
Adelaide Airport
Perth Airport
Singapore Changi Airport
Focus citiesCairns International Airport
Darwin International Airport
London Heathrow Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Frequent-flyer programQantas Frequent Flyer
AllianceOneworld
SubsidiariesQantasLink
Jetstar Airways
Jetconnect
Qantas Freight
Qantas Defence Services
Qantas Holidays
Express Ground Handling
Q Catering
Fleet size132
Destinations150 including subsidiaries
HeadquartersBotany Bay, Sydney, Australia[1]
Key peopleLeigh Clifford (Chairman)
Alan Joyce (CEO)
RevenueDecrease A$13.772 billion (2010)[2] (Qantas Group)
Operating incomeIncrease A$253 million (2010)[2]
ProfitDecrease A$116 million (2010)[2]
Total assetsDecrease A$19.91 billion (2010)[2]
Total equityIncrease A$5.981 billion (2010)[2]
Websitewww.qantas.com.au

Qantas Airways Limited (Template:Pron-en) (ASX: QAN) is the national airline of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an acronym/initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport. It is Australia's largest airline and the world's second oldest continuously operating airline.[3] Qantas headquarters are located in the Qantas Centre in the Mascot suburb of the City of Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales.

Currently the airline is considered a four-star airline by research consultancy firm Skytrax. In 2010, Qantas was voted the seventh best airline in the world by the firm, a drop from 2009 (sixth), 2008 (third), 2007 (fifth), 2006 (second), and 2005 (second).[4]

History

Main article: History of Qantas

Qantas was founded in Winton, Queensland on 16 November 1920 as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited.[5] The airline's first aircraft was an Avro 504K. The airline flew internationally from May 1935, when it commenced service from Darwin to Singapore. In June 1959 Qantas entered the jet age when the first Boeing 707-138 was delivered .[6]

Company affairs and identity

Headquarters

Qantas headquarters are located in the Qantas Centre in the Mascot suburb of the City of Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales.[1]

In 1920 Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Ltd had its headquarters in Winton, Queensland. In 1921 the head office moved to Longreach, Queensland. In 1930 the head office moved to Brisbane. In 1957 a head head office, Qantas House, opened along Hunter Street in Sydney.[7] In the 1970s a new $AUS 50 million headquarters, consisting of twin skyscrapers, was being built in Sydney and expected to take one city block. The first and largest tower had an expected completion time in 1973.[8]

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders initiatives

Boeing 747–438 on final approach to 27L at London Heathrow Airport

Qantas, through its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Programme, has some links with the Aboriginal Australian community. As of 2007, the company has run the programme for more than ten years and 1–2% of its staff are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. Qantas employs a full time Diversity Coordinator, who is responsible for the programme.[9]

Qantas has also bought and donated some Aboriginal Art. In 1993, the airline bought a painting — Honey Ant and Grasshopper Dreaming — from the Central Australian desert region. As of 2007, this painting is on permanent loan to Yiribana at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. In 1996, Qantas donated five extra bark paintings to the gallery. Qantas has also sponsored and supported Aboriginal artists in the past.[9]

Promotional activities

Qantas used a small promotional animation on its website to announce it will offer in-flight internet services on its fleet of A380s.[10] Qantas' present long-running advertising campaign features renditions by children's choirs of Peter Allen's "I Still Call Australia Home", set to footage of Australian scenery. A much earlier campaign aimed at American television audiences featured an Australian koala, who detested Qantas for bringing tourists to destroy his quiet life (his key tagline: "I hate Qantas"). Qantas is the main and shirt sponsor of the "Qantas Wallabies", the Australian national Rugby Union team. They also sponsor and have shirt rights to the Socceroos, Australia's national football team. Qantas is now the sponsor for the Formula one Australian Grand Prix it last sponsored the Australian Grand Prix in 2001 For many years between 1994 until 2004, Qantas sponsorship logos appeared at the credits for Neighbours, Wheel Of Fortune, Hey Hey It's Saturday (as its' sponsor), originally under the banner of We choose to fly.... These replaced earlier sponsorship under the Australian Airlines brand in 1994.

Destinations

Qantas destinations

Qantas flies to 18 domestic destinations and 21 international destinations in 14 countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania excluding the destinations served by its subsidiaries. Domestically, Qantas advertises all direct flights between Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney as Qantas CityFlyer.

Qantas, along with British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, and United Airlines, is one of only nine airlines that fly to all six inhabited continents.

Main article: Qantas destinations
Antarctic flights

Qantas operates flightseeing charters to Antarctica on behalf of Croydon Travel. It first flew Antarctic flightseeing trips in 1977.[11] They were suspended for a number of years due to the crash of Air New Zealand Flight 901 on Mt Erebus in 1979. Qantas restarted the flights in 1994. Although these flights do not touch down, they require specific polar operations and crew training due to factors like whiteout which contributed to the Air New Zealand disaster.

Introduction of flights to Dallas

On 14 January 2011, Qantas announced [12] that on 16 May of the same year, they will start services to Dallas. Operating four return flights a week under QF7 from Sydney, then QF8 from Dallas to Sydney via Brisbane, will be a three-class Boeing 747. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce stated that the new services were part of "an expanded commercial relationship with American Airlines ". However, on 14 May 2011, Qantas will end their flights to San Francisco. The new destination adds 13 new codeshare destinations in the US, and 3 in Mexico, with American Airlines' regional network.

Codeshare agreements

Outside Oneworld, Qantas also exchanges codeshare agreements with the following airlines:[13]

Fleet

As of December 2010 the active Qantas mainline fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 11.5 years:[14][15][16]

Qantas Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Options
Purchase
rights 		Passengers Notes
F C K Y
Total
Airbus A330-200 9 — — 0
0
0
0 		36
36
42
36 		0
0
0
0 		199
201
268
265 		235
237
310
301 		All aircraft leased from Jetstar will be returned upon the delivery of the Boeing 787
VH-EBL painted in Oneworld livery
Airbus A330-300 10 — — 0 30 0 267 297
Airbus A380-800 8 12 4+12 14 72 32 332 450 Replacing 747-400. Grounded between 2010-11-04 and 2010-11-27 following engine failure on Qantas Flight 32.[17]
Boeing 737-400 17 — — 0
0
0
0
0
0 		20
16
12
8
4
0 		0
0
0
0
0
0 		120
126
132
138
144
150 		140
136
144
146
148
150 [18] 		Phasing out in 2013
Boeing 737-800 38 29 — 0 12 0 156 168 VH-VXB Painted in Yananyi Dreaming livery
Boeing 747-400 20 — — 14
14
0
0 		66
52
56
56 		40
32
40
0 		187
255
275
356 		307
353
371
412 		Phasing out from 2013.[19] Replacement aircraft : Airbus A380-800 and Boeing 787
Another four aircraft stored
One aircraft painted in Oneworld livery
VH-OEB in Come Play Livery
VH-OJS painted in "Come Play" Livery
Boeing 747-400ER 6 — — 14 66 40 187 307 sole operator of this aircraft type
VH-OEJ Painted in Wunala Dreaming livery
Boeing 767-300ER 26 — — 0
0
0 		25
30
30 		0
0
0 		204
214
224 		229
244
254 		Phasing out from 2012. Replacement aircraft: Boeing 787
4 aircraft are stored
7 Aircraft leased from British Airways (VH-ZXA - VH-ZXG)
Boeing 787-8 — 15 — TBA Replacing 767-300 & 747-400
Boeing 787-9 — 35[20] — TBA Replacing 767-300 and 747-400
Total 134 90 4+12
  • First Class and Premium Economy offered on select aircraft.
Airbus A380 taking off from London Heathrow Airport in June 2009. The main and nose undercarriage doors have not yet closed.

As of June 2010 Qantas and its subsidiaries operate 256 aircraft, which includes 52 aircraft by Jetstar Airways, 52 by the various QantasLink-branded airlines, seven by Jetconnect, four by Express Freighters Australia and four by Qantas Freight.[14][15][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] The Boeing customer code for Qantas is 38. This code appears in Boeing aircraft model numbers (such as 747-438).[29]

File:VHOEJ.JPG
Wunala Dreaming
Yananyi Dreaming

Qantas have named their aircraft since 1926. Themes included Greek gods, stars, people in Australian aviation history, and Australian birds. Since 1959, the majority of Qantas aircraft have been named after Australian cities. The Airbus A380 series, the flagship of the airline, is going to be named after Australian aviation pioneers, with the first A380 named Nancy-Bird Walton.

Main article: Naming of Qantas aircraft

The A380 operates flights from Sydney and Melbourne to Los Angeles, Singapore and London (via Singapore), although subsequent to the engine failure on Qantas Flight 32 the A380 was returned only to limited service from Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore and London (via Singapore) from 28 November 2010.[30] A380 services between Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles were suspended and are not expected to resume until sometime after January 2011.[31] Qantas is currently the only operator of the A380 to operate the superjumbos from multiple bases.

Qantas has two aircraft painted in Australian Aboriginal art liveries: Wunala Dreaming (Boeing 747-400ER VH-OEJ[32]), and Yananyi Dreaming (Boeing 737–800 VH-VXB[33]). Both carry striking, colourful liveries, designed by Australian Aborigines.[34] There was previously a third livery Nalanji Dreaming (Boeing 747–300 VH-EBU[35]), but the aircraft was sold for spare parts in 2007.

Qantas historical fleet

First aircraft

Qantas' first aircraft was an Avro 504K (a replica of which can be seen at Sydney Airport's Qantas Domestic Terminal) with a 100 horsepower (74 kw) water-cooled Sunbeam Dyak engine. By 1921 they also operated a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2E with a 90 horsepower (67 kw) air-cooled engine.

During World War II

During World War II Qantas operated flying boats on the Australia-England route. This service became a vital line of communication between Australia and the United Kingdom.[36]

Lockheed era

In 1954, Qantas modernised its fleet with the first of the Lockheed Constellation aircraft. By 1956 the airline were operating 34 propeller driven aircraft. Qantas carried a record number of passengers to the XVl Olympic Games in Melbourne, and also carried the Olympic flame[37] into the Southern Hemisphere for the first time on its longest ever trip, from Athens to Darwin.[38]

It was a momentous year for the national carrier as the landmark decision was made to order seven Boeing 707-138 jetliners at a cost of A$28 million.

Jet era

Qantas entered the Jet Age in July 1959 – ahead of every other airline outside the US – with Boeing 707 services to the USA. The service was extended to London (via New York). Sydney–London services (via India) began in October 1959.[39] With the certification of the turbofan engine, Qantas modified its existing 707-138 fleet with the turbofans, naming its Boeing 707 aircraft V-Jets, from the Latin vannus, meaning fan. In total, Qantas took delivery of seven Boeing 707-138 aircraft, and a further six -138Bs.

By the 1970s Qantas had further acquired Boeing 747 aircraft,[40] which strengthened its long haul fleet. The fleet as of 1970 is listed below.

Qantas Airways fleet in 1970 [41]
Aircraft Total Orders Notes
BAC/Sud Concorde 0 0 Four on option
Boeing SST 0 0 Six on option
Boeing 707–300 21 0
Boeing 747–200 0 4
Douglas DC-3 2 0
Douglas DC-4 2 0
Hawker Siddeley HS 125 2 0
Lockheed L-188 Electra 1 0
Total 28 4

Services

In-flight entertainment

File:On-q-rotating.gif

Qantas has several in-flight entertainment systems installed on its aircraft. Across the fleet, the in-flight experience is referred to as "On:Q". Apart from the QantasLink operated Boeing 717s and Dash-8s, which feature audio entertainment only,[42] every other Qantas aircraft have some form of video audio entertainment.

iQ

The most fully-featured system, known as "iQ", is featured in all classes of the Airbus A380, as well as new Airbus A330-200's. It is to be implemented on new Boeing 737-800's,[43] and Boeing 787's when they enter service.[44][45] This audio video on demand (AVOD) experience is based on the Panasonic Avionics system[46][47] and features expanded entertainment options, touch screens, new communications related features such as Wi-Fi and mobile phone functionality, as well as increased support for electronics (such as USB and iPod connectivity).

Total Entertainment System

The "Total Entertainment System" by Rockwell Collins [48] is featured on all Boeing 747-400, Airbus A330-300 and international configuration Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This AVOD system includes personal LCD screens in all classes, located in the seat back for economy and business class, and in the armrest for premium economy and first class.

Qantas Mainscreen

The other entertainment system is the Mainscreen System, where video screens are the only available form of video entertainment; movies are shown on the screens for lengthier flights, or TV programmes on shorter flights. A news telecast will usually feature at the start of the flight. Audio options are less varied than on iQ or the Total Entertainment System.

The Mainscreen System is installed on on all Boeing 737-400's,[49] domestic configured Boeing 737-800's (delivered before 2011)[50] as well the economy and most business class sections on Boeing 767 fleet.[51] International configured Boeing 767 aircraft have Mainscreen throughout the cabin however also offer a 10-channel looped AVOD in Business Class.[52]

Nine's Qantas Inflight News

The Australian Nine Network provides a news bulletin for Qantas entitled Nine's Qantas Inflight News. This news bulletin includes all the latest news, sport, finance and weather details presented by Amber Higlett. The bulletin is the same broadcast as Nine's Early Morning News.

In-flight magazine

The Qantas in-flight magazine is entitled The Australian Way. The magazine, along with a travel blog featuring entries from Qantas ambassadors and the ability for frequent flyers to post comments, is online at http://travelinsider.qantas.com.au .[53]

In-flight internet connectivity

Boeing's cancellation of the Connexion by Boeing system caused concerns that in-flight internet would not be available on next-generation aircraft such as Qantas' fleet of Airbus A380s and Boeing Dreamliner 787s. However, Qantas announced in July 2007 that all service classes in its fleet of A380s would have wireless internet access as well as seat-back access to e-mail and cached web browsing when they start flying in October 2008. Certain elements will be retrofitted into existing Boeing 747-400s, too.[54] Its first A380 has the in-flight Internet system installed, but not activated. Customers flying on the A380 can access an e-mail client which simply shows a 'no uplink' error message. The in-flight entertainment system indicates that Internet access is provided by OnAir.[55]

In-flight mobile phone trial

Qantas announced in April 2007, a trial for use of mobile telephones with AeroMobile, during domestic services for three months on a Boeing 767 (registration: VH-OGI). During the trial, passengers were allowed to send and receive text messages and emails, but were not able to make or receive calls.[56]

Cabin

First class

Qantas First Class suite on the A380

First class is offered only on the Boeing 747–400 and Airbus A380.[57]

On the Boeing 747–400, first class is in the form of flat bed sleeping pods with 79in seat pitch with each seat being 22in wide. It folds flat to form a 6 ft 6in (198 cm) fully flat bed. Other features include a 26 cm (10.4 in) touch screen monitor with 400 AVOD programs and personal 110V AC power outlets in every seat. Qantas offers 14 seats on all the 747-400s equipped with first class.

On the Airbus A380,[58] Qantas offers 14 individual suites, with 83.5in seat pitch (extending to a 212 cm fully flat bed) and a width of 29in. Each suite has a 43 cm (17 in) wide screen HD monitor with 1000 AVOD programs. In addition to the 110V AC power outlets offered on the 747-400, USB ports are also offered for connectivity. Passengers are also able to make use of the on-board business lounge on the upper deck.

Complimentary access to either the first class or business class lounges (or affiliated lounges) is offered.

Business class

Business class is offered on all Qantas aircraft (excluding QantasLink and other subsidiary airlines).

The Domestic Business Class product offers seating in a 2–2 format on the Boeing 737 aircraft and 2-2-2 on Boeing 767 and some Airbus A330-200 aircraft. However, Qantas' most recent A330-200s have added a middle seat and adopted a 2-3-2 configuration to boost business class capacity from 36 to 42 seats. This has come in for criticism from business travellers,[59] especially as the new A330-200s fly the five-hour direct route between Sydney-Perth and Melbourne-Perth. Seat pitch ranges from 35-37in with a seat width of 20in.

Qantas long-haul Business Class SkyBed seats

International Business Class is available on the Boeing 747, some International Airbus A330-200s, the A330-300 and the Airbus A380. On the Boeing 747, seating is in a 2-3-2 configuration on the main deck and a 2–2 configuration on the upper deck. The A330 features a 2-2-2 configuration. The lie-flat Skybeds feature 60in of seat pitch and 21.5in width.[60] 747s and A330s features a 26 cm (10.4 in) touch screen monitor with 400 AVOD programs. Qantas' new international business class product is featured on the Airbus A380. It features 72 fully-flat Skybed seats with 80in seat pitch (converting to a 200 cm long bed). These seats are located on the upper-deck in a 2-2-2 configuration in 2 separate cabins. features include a 30 cm touch screen monitor with 1000 AVOD programs and an on-board lounge. On the internationally configured Boeing 767, seating is in a 1-2-2 configuration, which include a 13 cm monitor with 10 channels of video and 12 channels of audio.

Complimentary access to the Qantas business class lounge (or affiliated lounges) is also offered.

Premium economy class

Premium economy class is only available on Airbus A380 and certain Boeing 747–400 aircraft. It has a seat pitch of 38in on the Boeing 747 & it ranges between 38-42in on the Airbus A380, with a width of 19.5in. On the Boeing 747, it is configured in a 2-4-2 seating arrangement around the middle of the main deck, whilst it is in a 2-3-2 at the rear of the upper deck on the A380. All A380's have 32 seats.[61]

747-400's have a varying amount of premium economy seats, and in some cases offer a limited number of business class seats (usually the back two rows of the business cabin, rows 29 and 30) as premium economy seats due to the re-configuration of the 747's cabin structure. [62]

Qantas premium economy is presented as a lighter business class product rather than most other airlines' premium economy, often presented as a higher economy class.

Qantas long-haul Economy cabin

Economy class

Economy class is available on all Qantas flights.

Seat pitch is usually 31 inches (790 mm) and seat width ranges from 17 to 17.5 inches (440 mm). Layouts are 3-3 on the 737, 2-3-2 on the 767,[63] 2-4-2 on the A330 and 3-4-3 on the 747. On the A380, the layout is 3-4-3 and there are 4 self-service snack bars located in between cabins.[64]

Awards

Service Award

  • Skytrax Airline of the Year — listed in the top five airlines in the world for five consecutive years.[65]
  • Skytrax Best Airline Australia – 2005, 2006, 2008[66]
  • Skytrax Best Regional Airline Australia – 2006, 2008[66]

Entertainment

WAEA Avion awards Best Overall Inflight Entertainment – 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
Inflight entertainment guide – 2005, 2006
WAEA Avion awards Best Entertainment for Inseat Systems – 2006

Wine awards

Best First Class Red - 2009 Cellars in the Sky Awards
Best First Class Fortified - 2009 Cellars in the Sky Awards
Best First Class Cellar - 2009 Cellars in the Sky Awards
Best Presented Wine List - 2009 Cellars in the Sky Awards
Best First and Business Class Wine List – 2005 cellars in the Sky Awards.
Most Original First Class Wine List – 2007, 2008 cellars in the Sky Awards.
Best First Class – 2007 Cellars in the sky awards
Best Business Class Sparkling Award – 2007 cellars in the Sky Awards
Best Consistency of Wines across Business and First – 2007 Cellars in the Sky Awards

Design Awards

2009 Australian International Design Award of the Year – A380 Economy Seat[67] 2010 - The Chicago Anthenaeum’s Annual Good Design Awards - A380 First Class Suite

Qantas Frequent Flyer

File:Qantas Frequent Flyer logo.svg

The Qantas Frequent Flyer programme rewards customer loyalty. Points are accrued based on distance flown, with bonuses that vary by travel class, and can be earned on Oneworld airlines as well as other partners. Points can be redeemed for flights or upgrades on flights operated by Qantas, Oneworld airlines, and other partners. Other partners include credit cards,[68] car rental companies, hotels and many others. To join the programme, passengers living in Australia or New Zealand pay a one-off joining fee, and then become a Bronze Frequent Flyer (residents of other countries may join without a fee). All accounts remain active as long as there is points activity once every eighteen months. Flights with Qantas and selected partner airlines earn Status Credits — and accumulation of these allows progression to Silver Status (Oneworld Ruby), Gold Status (Oneworld Sapphire) and Platinum Status (Oneworld Emerald).[69]

Qantas has faced criticism regarding availability of seats for members redeeming points.[70] In 2004, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission directed Qantas to provide greater disclosure to members regarding the availability of frequent flyer seats.[71]

In March 2008, an analyst at JPMorgan Chase suggested that the Qantas frequent-flyer program could be worth A$2 billion (US$1.9 billion), representing more than a quarter of the total market value of Qantas.[72]

On 1 July 2008, a major overhaul of the programme was announced. The two key new features of the programme are Any Seat rewards, in which members can redeem any seat on the plane, rather than just selected ones — at a price. The second new feature is Points Plus Pay, where members can use a combination of cash and points to redeem an award. Additionally, the Frequent Flyer store was also expanded to include a greater range of products and services.[73] Announcing the revamp, Qantas confirmed it would be seeking to raise about A$1 billion in 2008 by selling up to 40% of the frequent flyer program.[74] However, in September 2008, it stated it would defer the float, citing volatile market conditions. [75]

In mid 2009, Qantas entered into an agreement with Woolworths Limited which allows Woolworths customers to obtain Qantas Frequent Flyer points through the Woolworths Everyday Rewards card service; this was followed in late 2010 by the addition of a Woolworth Everyday Rewards Qantas MasterCard. [76]

The Qantas Club

File:Qantas Club logo.svg

The Qantas Club is the business-class airline lounge for Qantas with airport locations around Australia and the world. The Qantas Club offers membership by paid subscription (one year, two years or four years)[77] or by achievement of Gold or Platinum frequent flyer status. Benefits of membership include lounge access, priority check-in, priority luggage handling, increased luggage allowances.

The Chairmans Lounge is an invitation-only lounge offering better amenities and more benefits than the Qantas Club, and which Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has described as "probably the most exclusive club in (Australia)."[78]

Facilities at the Qantas Club vary by lounge, but typically include:[79]

  • Business Lounge — workstations, internet access, facsimile, photocopying facilities;
  • Showers — self-contained washrooms with free toiletries;
  • Bar — free bar, staffed from early afternoon (domestic) or open 24 hours with self-service (international).

Lounges also include power points, free local-call telephones, television, and quiet areas. As of April 2007, wireless internet access is now provided free.

The most recently upgraded lounge is at the new Canberra Airport in Australia's capital, which include Qantas' "new domestic experience".[80]

Some international lounges were upgraded in 2007. New First and Business lounges opened in Bangkok and Los Angeles, along with completely new First Class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, designed by Marc Newson.

Lounge access

Members are permitted to enter domestic Qantas Clubs when flying on Qantas or Jetstar flights along with one guest who need not be travelling. Internationally, the guest must be travelling with the member.[81] When flying with American Airlines, members have access to Admirals Club lounges and when flying on British Airways, members have access to the Terraces Lounge.[82]

Platinum Frequent Flyers had previously been able to access The Qantas Club in Australian domestic terminals at any time, regardless of whether they are flying that day.[83] However, beginning February 2011, Platinum members must be flying on a Qantas or oneworld flight in order to access Qantas lounges.[84]

Travellers holding Oneworld Sapphire or Emerald status are also welcome in Qantas Club lounges worldwide.

Airline incidents

Aircraft incidents and accidents

Main article: List of Qantas fatal accidents

It is often claimed, most notably in the 1988 movie Rain Man, that Qantas has never had an aircraft crash.[85] While it is true that the company has neither lost a jet airliner nor had any jet fatalities, it had eight fatal accidents and an aircraft shot down between 1927 and 1945, with the loss of 63 people. Half of these accidents and the shoot-down occurred during World War II, when the Qantas aircraft were operating on behalf of Allied military forces. Post-war, it lost another two aircraft with the loss of 17 lives. To this date, the last fatal accident suffered by Qantas was in 1951.

Since the end of World War II, the following accidents and incidents have occurred:

  • On 7 April 1949, Avro Lancastrian VH-EAS swung on landing at Dubbo during a training flight, causing the gear to collapse. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, but the crew evacuated safely.[86]
  • On 16 July 1951, de Havilland Australia DHA-3 Drover VH-EBQ crashed off the coast of New Guinea (in the Huon Gulf near the mouth of the Markham River) after the centre engine's propeller failed. The pilot and the six passengers on board were killed. To date, this was the last fatal accident suffered by Qantas.[87]
  • On 24 August 1960, Super Constellation VH-EAC crashed on take-off at Mauritius en route to the Cocos Islands. The take-off was aborted following an engine failure, the aircraft ran off the runway, and was destroyed by fire. There were no fatalities.[88]
  • On 23 September 1999, Qantas Flight 1, a Boeing 747–400 VH-OJH, overran the runway while landing at Bangkok, Thailand, during a heavy thunderstorm. The aircraft ended up on a golf course, but without fatalities. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau criticised numerous inadequacies in Qantas' operational and training processes.[89]
  • On 25 July 2008, Qantas Flight 30, a Boeing 747–400 VH-OJK, on the leg from Hong Kong to Melbourne, suffered a rapid decompression[90] and made an emergency landing in Manila after an explosion. There were no injuries. The ATSB officially stated that the incident was caused by the failure of an oxygen tank.[91][92][93]
Wikinews has related news:
  • On 7 October 2008, Qantas Flight 72, an Airbus A330-300 VH-QPA "Kununurra" travelling from Singapore to Perth, suffered a rapid loss of altitude in two sudden uncommanded pitch down manoeuvres causing serious injuries while 80 nautical miles (150 km) from Learmonth, Australia. The aircraft safely landed in Learmonth, with 14 people requiring transportation by air ambulance to Perth. Another 30 people also required hospital treatment, while an additional 30 people had injuries not requiring hospital treatment.[94] Initial investigations identified an inertial reference system fault in the Number-1 Air Data Inertial Reference Unit as the likely origin of the event. On receiving false indication of a very high angle of attack, the flight control systems commanded a pitch down movement, reaching a maximum of 8.5 degrees pitch down.[95]
  • On 4 November 2010 Qantas Flight 32, an Airbus A380, named "Nancy-Bird Walton" and registered VH-OQA, fitted with four Trent 972 engines manufactured by Rolls-Royce[96] suffered a serious failure of its left inboard engine while taking off from Singapore Changi Airport. The flight landed safely at Singapore, and all 433 passengers and 26 crew on board survived uninjured. Cowling parts of the failed engine fell over Batam island, Indonesia.[17][97] This was the most serious incident involving an A380 to date and resulted in the temporary grounding of Qantas’ entire A380 fleet.[98] Qantas resumed limited A380 services to Singapore and London from 27 November 2010[99] but claimed it was unable to fly the A380 to and from Los Angeles because it could not apply the necessary full thrust on the Trent 900 engines.[100] However, on 11 January the airline said it was now able to operate the A380's Trent 900 engines at maximum thrust and would resume limited A380 services between Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles from 16 January 2011.[101]

Extortion attempts

On 26 May 1971, Qantas received a call from a "Mr. Brown" claiming that there was a bomb planted on a Hong Kong-bound jet and demanding $500,000 in unmarked $20 bills. He was treated seriously when he directed police to an airport locker where a functional bomb was found. Arrangements were made to pick up the money in front of the head office of the airline in the heart of the Sydney business district. Qantas paid the money and it was collected, after which Mr. Brown called again, advising the 'bomb on the plane' story was a hoax. The initial pursuit of the perpetrator was bungled by the New South Wales Police Force who, despite having been advised of the matter from the time of the first call, failed to establish adequate surveillance of the pick-up of the money. Directed not to use their radios (for fear of being "overheard"), the police were unable to communicate adequately.[102] Tipped off by a still-unidentified informer, the police arrested an Englishman, Peter Macari,[103] finding more than $138,000 hidden in an Annandale property. Convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, Macari served nine years before being deported to Britain. Over $224,000 has still not been found. The 1985 telemovie Call Me Mr. Brown, directed by Scott Hicks and produced by Terry Jennings, relates to this incident.

On 4 July 1997, a copycat extortion attempt was thwarted by police and Qantas security staff.[104]

Sex discrimination controversy

Main article: Airline sex discrimination policy

In November 2005, it was revealed that Qantas has a policy of not seating adult male passengers next to unaccompanied children. This led to accusations of discrimination. The policy came to light following an incident in 2004 when Mark Wolsay, who was seated next to a young boy on a Qantas flight in New Zealand, was asked to change seats with a female passenger. A steward informed him that "it was the airline's policy that only women were allowed to sit next to unaccompanied children".[105]

Cameron Murphy of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties president criticised the policy and stated that "there was no basis for the ban". He said it was wrong to assume that all adult males posed a danger to children .[106] The policy has also been criticised for failing to take female abusers into consideration.[107]

Price fixing

Qantas has pleaded guilty to participating in a cartel that fixed the price of air cargo. Qantas Airways Ltd. was fined $155,000 CAD after it admitted that its freight division fixed surcharges on cargo exported on certain routes from Canada between May 2002 and February 2006.[108]

See also

References

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  107. ^ 7:30 Report. "Sex discrimination controversy". ABC TV. Retrieved 27 May 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  108. ^ CBC News Regulators fine Qantas in Cargo Price-Fixing Cartel

External links

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