AJ letter to Crikey Blog - QANTAS.

[ChrisCunard]

AJ defends his tenure at QF.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce responds to Crikey, Plane Talking | Plane Talking

Very angry comments by readers.

 

[TonyHancock]

Oh dear! Desperate stuff. (Should that be sincerely rather than faithfully too?)

 

[yohy?!]

Wow that's one angry lynch mob

Sent from my HTC Legend using AustFreqFly App

 

[TonyHancock]

Having read and reread that letter surely it is a fake? It is so badly written, and why on earth would the CEO of QF respond to a blog?

Bizarre!

 

[awilcockson]

Wow the comments section is not a happy place. Such well reasoned and written responses though.

 

[AaronBradford]

That certainly is very strange indeed that Joyce should respond in this fashion. I am not 100% convinced it is real, however I wouldn't put it past him given his recent theatrics.

 

[thewinchester]

I've previously commented that Sandilands is a known union sympathiser, and also has significant contacts with the relevant engineering and airline unions. This is not withstanding his own style that has in more recent months exhibited a significant bias against QF, in much the same way NoNews does in their articles.

I also wouldn't put it past Sandilands to have given his union friends the heads up before posting, so they could Marshall the troops to flame the response well before he posted it.

That certainly is very strange indeed that Joyce should respond in this fashion. I am not 100% convinced it is real, however I wouldn't put it past him given his recent theatrics.

Having read and reread that letter surely it is a fake? It is so badly written, and why on earth would the CEO of QF respond to a blog?

Bizarre!

I would disagree with the suggested strangeness and/or bizzareness of the letter, and I also don't doubt the authenticity of it coming from AJ. The letter exhibits all the hallmarks of AJ's written and spoken style, and uses phraseology and language that's consistent with what he would normally use.

Also, I'd dare say this is another small step in QF's continual expansion of how they respond to the media. As we'd know they've been historically shy to engage or tackle issues relating to them in the media head on. I would view the letter from AJ in this light, and suggest that this is just another step on this path rather than an aberration.

And given my aforementioned reference to Sandilands contacts and networks, I would proffer this is an educate venture into the lions den to set the record, and Sandilands straight on a few issues.

 

[AaronBradford]

I do agree that being proactive rather than doing a Dell and adopting a "look, but don't touch" approach is a good thing, thewinchester. However, that effect in my mind is lost when the CEO takes on a defensive, negative attitude that only further aggravates the situation.

 

[ozmille]

I honestly don't think the CEO of QF is going to send such a blog entry. Don't think the board would let him. This must be fake

 

[AaronBradford]

I honestly don't think the CEO of QF is going to send such a blog entry. Don't think the board would let him. This must be fake

If it is fake, there would surely be a statement out from QF by now ...

 

[Sprucegoose]

I do agree that being proactive rather than doing a Dell and adopting a "look, but don't touch" approach is a good thing, thewinchester. However, that effect in my mind is lost when the CEO takes on a defensive, negative attitude that only further aggravates the situation.

I have read and written alot of Corp speak and I believe it was not defensive per se. He came out fighting in another forum, untraditionally. Good to see. Agree it was AJ style and prose.

I would be more interested in the response to this than the style and content herein.

He and qantas have every right to defend their position, and that is not to diminish any entitlement other stakeholders may have or will eventually receive.

 

[drron]

I certainly believe this is AJ and he does have the right to state his position.
I really dont look on the SQ,VA tie up as a masterstroke by VA.Obviously both * and Skyteam would be keen on having an Australian presence so VA is obviously going to be courted.
As to the Union problems-there is always going to be 2 sides to the story.AJ is in a no win situation.Most competitors have lower costs but no one is going to give up what they have without a fight.

 

[schomers87]

basic rule in media is to authenticate the email- even though crikey is no media juggernaut, there is no doubt they would have checked up on this one.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

It should also be noted that the letter actually went to Crikey itself (the subscriber newsletter) which is on a circulation par with a small newspaper, but its subscribers are generally well connected and many are in senior corporate roles - it hits above its weight.

So to characterise it as a blog response is incorrect. It was a 'letter to the editor'.

 

[ajw373]

Seems like a pretty direct and fair handed response actually, so have no doubt he wrote it.

This poor cough is fighting a battle that he can never win. His main role is to reform the company to keep it afloat and a good part of the 35000 that work for it will fight tooth and nail to keep it as is. The stupidity is if things things are kept as is then they company WILL die a slow death.

The responses quite clearly show the hostility he is up against, so maybe time for some of their own medicine to be given back. So bravo Alan.

 

[samiam]

The letter exhibits all the hallmarks of AJ's written and spoken style, and uses phraseology and language that's consistent with what he would normally use.

It certainly didn't sound like him as I was reading it

 

[harvyk]

I believe it was authentic, it said things without saying anything which wasn't already on the public record.

For instance it didn't cover the Jetstarisation of QF, nor did it cover why QF is bringing in it's "Enhancements" which are pissing off their loyal flyers at a time when VA is doing all it can to nab QF customers.

I see AJ's days as QF CEO as numbered, now here's hoping the next person understands how to run what is meant to be a premium brand.

 

[gpr49697]

has a tough job, at a tough time with a tough share price. don't envy AJ at all.

 

[medhead]

has a tough job, at a tough time with a tough share price. don't envy AJ at all.

I'm not exactly sure how long he's been in the job. But the only tough bit is just now when VA are making massive milage off all the mistakes that Joyce has made. So he only has himself to blame for that. Otherwise, I fail to see anything tough about running a business in such a dominant position as qantas enjoyed. Except, of course, that Joyce has done a great job of stuffing that up. The tough thing about the job is Joyce's own lack of vision. IMO

 

[ajw373]

I'm not exactly sure how long he's been in the job. But the only tough bit is just now when VA are making massive milage off all the mistakes that Joyce has made. So he only has himself to blame for that. Otherwise, I fail to see anything tough about running a business in such a dominant position as qantas enjoyed. Except, of course, that Joyce has done a great job of stuffing that up. The tough thing about the job is Joyce's own lack of vision. IMO

No Virgin Australia are making mileage of the hard work THEY have done over the past 10 years, in particular keeping costs down, rather than benefiting from any Qantas mistake. So hats off to them.

Qantas was riding high in the early 2000's simply because of the Ansett crash and their ability to quickly expand and soak up the extra capacity, something that the then Virgin Blue couldn't.

The problem with Qantas now is simply their cost base, which is what Joyce is trying to fix. But work a work force in denial and unwilling to work to become relevant Joyce is pushing the proverbial up hill.