Qantas v the unions
- Published: 30/10/2011 at 05:40 AM
- Online news:
SYDNEY : Alan Joyce has defied death threats and proved willing to risk the ire of Australia's most powerful politicians in his steely campaign to restructure iconic national carrier Qantas.
Joyce, who took over as chief executive of the "Flying Kangaroo" in 2008, has been determined to lower the airline's cost base, partly by axing 1,000 jobs and refocusing it on Asia with the launch of two new airlines.The 45-year-old took the most drastic step in his campaign on Saturday when he grounded all Qantas flights in an effort to break crippling industrial action from three unions.It was also the boldest move of Irish-born Joyce's career, which he started by working up the management ladder in his homeland with Ireland's national carrier, Aer Lingus.He transferred to Australia 15 years ago to join the now-defunct Ansett airline, then joined Qantas in 2000.Joyce was appointed chief executive of Qantas' low-cost arm Jetstar Airways in 2003 and became an Australian citizen around the same time.His successful reign at Jetstar, where he jostled with other budget airlines in the increasingly competitive Asian region, helped form his uncompromising views on lowering costs.Qantas's media team revealed early this month that Joyce had received death threats as the industrial tensions escalated.While the airline would not reveal the details, Sydney newspaper the Daily Telegraph reported he had received warning letters that were also laced with...
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About the author
- Writer: AFP News agency
- Position: Agence France-Presse
