Qantas to operate evacuation flights from Lebanon via Cyprus to Sydney

[Himeno]

I do recall similar "come home now" rhetoric before the borders were shut.

Not that that was very helpful. They just said "return home ASAP". Didn't say why, then slammed the borders shut less then a week later.

 

[prozac]

I do recall similar "come home now" rhetoric before the borders were shut.

You are partly right but missing the facts. It was not possible to change your travel dates and get on a plane home. Air fares quadrupled and more in that period and even gaining a booking did not guarantee you could fly and mostly people were bumped for higher fare paying passengers.
Believe me when I tell you I know, we could not get MsProzac onto a flight.

Quite different to current situation where there has been long term advice to leave Lebanon and in fact not go there at all. My thoughts are you would not stay so long unless you felt protected, so no, I am not in favour of the last leavers getting the royal treatment.

 

[downgraded]

I am not in favour of the last leavers getting the royal treatment.

Couldn't agree more. QF clearly thinks it a PR stunt as QR is quietly also flying people back with no fanfare., Any altruistic act that costs the company money is only reducing their corporate tax liability that the rest of us have to make up for. It is us, the taxpayer who is ultimately footing the bill. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? <Self redacting the rest>

 

[prozac]

First warning to leave Lebanon - 19 Oct 2023

 

[Quickstatus]

To get that RRV approved, you must have been in Australia for 2 of the past 5 years or have compelling reasons why you haven't, or be able to demonstrate other substantial ties.

A lot of PR people actually do this. Live abroad mostly but come in just to keep the clock alive.

 

[justinbrett]

Couldn't agree more. QF clearly thinks it a PR stunt as QR is quietly also flying people back with no fanfare., Any altruistic act that costs the company money is only reducing their corporate tax liability that the rest of us have to make up for. It is us, the taxpayer who is ultimately footing the bill. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? <Self redacting the rest>

Both flights are chartered by DFAT.

If the competitive environment means the airlines both want to do it for free, that’s a good situation for the taxpayer (and a tax write off only gets back 30%). Although I’ve seen no reports that QR is doing it for free. If they are, you don’t have to be too smart to work out why, especially with current approvals requested.

 

[Quickstatus]

22 years ago (almost) QF conducted one of the largest civilian evacs in non wartime Australia. I think it operated 9 flights and 4500 pasengers.

 

[Mr Bill]

22 years ago (almost) QF conducted one the largest civilian evacs in non wartime Australia. I think it operated 9 flights and 4500 pasengers.

I guess you are referring to the 2004 Tsunami ?
Let's not for get QF B707/747 participation in the evac of DRW after Tracy. I believe a QF B747 still holds the record of 697 pax and crew.

 

[Quickstatus]

2004

Thats 20 years not 22....

 

[Mr Bill]

Thats 20 years not 22....

So ????..........you said 20 years ago "Almost".
Were you referring to the Tusnami ?

 

[Quickstatus]

you said 20 years ago "Almost".

22 years (almost) because its not yet 22 years
No

 

[justinbrett]

So ????..........you said 20 years ago "Almost".
Were you referring to the Tusnami ?

Bali bombing

 

[Mr Bill]

Bali bombing

 

[Quickstatus]

QF was involved with the evac of the walking wounded and uninjured in the Bali evacuation. The triaging actually occurred on board the aircraft, such was the urgency in getting people out. My point is that this was a real evacuation - 9 flights, 4500 passengers

The current flights out of LCA of 2x787 and circa 500 pax. IMO it seems to a cynical me a bit of tokenism by the AU Guvment.
As I said QR/EK operates daily flights out of LCA: QR266 - A320, EK110 - B777-300 and from there to most Australian ports via A380/777.

Are the 2x787 flights prioritising the vulnerable passenger who would perhaps benefit from a non stop rather than a 1 stop. Assuming the 787 destination is also their destination, but some might need a domestic connection if not SYD

 

[RichardMEL]

I would note for the esteemed member from the Montréal Convention, that Canada has also paid for flights out for Canadian Citizens, famlies and permanent residents. This was per a Globe & Mail article I just read. About 1k have taken up the offer, but also seats paid for have not been taken up fully apparently.

 

[nancypants]

I have citizenship in 2 countries and eligible for a 3rd (Australia, UK and Norway). Don’t particularly identify any country as being “mine”. Don’t imagine I’ll need an evac flight any time soon but I don’t think I’d be thrilled to have people assigning my worthiness over words spoken in what is my 5th language…

 

[serfty]

Why not have the flights open to open to people who have been in Australia in the last 5-10 years;
Same goes for those living on Australian pensions overseas. Pension lapses after 5-10 years after leaving Australia.

Currently, If you qualify, Australian aged pensions do not lapse irrespective of place of residency even if you don't return to Australia.

The only thing that can happen is that some supplemental payments become unavailable and the rate may be reduced depending on one's AWLR * if it represents less than 35 years.

* "Australian working life residence" - Number of months residency in Australia from the age of 16.

 

[Saab34]

QF was involved with the evac of the walking wounded and uninjured in the Bali evacuation. The triaging actually occurred on board the aircraft, such was the urgency in getting people out. My point is that this was a real evacuation - 9 flights, 4500 passengers

The current flights out of LCA of 2x787 and circa 500 pax. IMO it seems to a cynical me a bit of tokenism by the AU Guvment.
As I said QR/EK operates daily flights out of LCA: QR266 - A320, EK110 - B777-300 and from there to most Australian ports via A380/777.

Are the 2x787 flights prioritising the vulnerable passenger who would perhaps benefit from a non stop rather than a 1 stop. Assuming the 787 destination is also their destination, but some might need a domestic connection if not SYD

Just leave it to QR to ferry them here. Qantas pulling a few 787s out for days to run these will cause more issues impacting thousands.

Unless it’s super urgent, and local, if one doesn’t have the fleet to run such missions, leave it to the bigger boys. As it is, the QR flights have landed and gone back to the ME before the QF flight has even departed Cyprus.

Qatar have proven they can run these missions and have considerable experience doing so. I take my hat off to them.

 

[NM]

If you qualify, Australian aged pensions do not lapse irrespective of place of residency even if you don't return to Australia.

The only thing that can happen is that some supplemental payments become unavailable and the rate may be reduced depending on one's AWLR * if it represents less than 35 years.

* "Australian working life residence" - Number of months residency in Australia from the age of 16.

I think @drron is suggesting that he thinks there *should* be a limit on the years away from Australia to remain qualified to receive an Australian pension, similar to the suggestion he is proposing regarding a time limit for repatriation services for AU citizens who have no been in Australia for a number of years.

 

[Mr Bill]

We seem to be drifting away from planes to politics again.........boring