Rubenerd

If Australian travellers among your friends have expressed a mixture of excitement and relief recently, it’s likely a response to the latest news surrounding Australia’s de facto flag carrier Qantas. The controversial managing director left two months early this week; the official reasons were vague, but it was well-understood his position had become untenable.

Alan Joyce was appointed CEO of the low-cost subsidiary Jetstar in 2003, before becoming CEO of the Qantas Group in 2008. The less said about Jetstar the better in my (fortunately limited!) experience, so we’ll focus on the flying kangaroo here.

The stock market rewarded his handling of the airline’s finances during his directorship, from Covid to the global financial crisis. The flying public didn’t agree, suffice to say. The consensus on the ground was that Mr Joyce had cashed in on the good will and reputation of the airline, and left it profitable but fractured.

Qantas is a big company, and many of us know people who work directly or indirectly for them in a variety of roles. I know second-hand that Joyce fostered a toxic work culture, developed an icy relationship with his ground and cabin crews, and pilots were known to widely despise him. I read a few reports of captains using the PA systems on flights to announce their excitement at Mr Joyce’s departure, which says it all really.

Robert Myers: VH-ZNJ with 100th anniversary of Qantas’ livery

I won’t list here the litany of issues and government inquiries surrounding Qantas during his tenure. It’s also unclear how much of a difference removing the top will make if his board remains intact. I’m sure industry insiders will have far more to say about this in the coming weeks and months.

What I can say is that I’ve actively avoided Qantas for years, and not just because of my affinity towards Singapore Airlines. Qantas used to stand shoulder-to-shoulder among the great airlines of the world, with their impeccable safety record and quality of service. It’s fall from grace, particularly in the latter, has been tragic. If United breaks guitars, Qantas sends them to whoop whoop, to use the local vernacular.

I happen to think Qantas is vital enough a national asset that it should be re-nationalised. Whether you agree or are wrong (cough!), let’s hope Vanessa Hudson is able to revive the kangaroo in whatever form it takes next. I would love to have a bit of pride in them again.