This greedy, self-centred Irish gobshite (a word I hate, but nothing else is appropriate) has singlehandedly trashed the image of Australia around the world, playing havoc with our economy and ensuring that the airline that we were once proud to describe as an Australian icon will inexorably lose money and morph into another low service, poor safety Asian also-ran.
He ignored his customers, stranding some 80,000 of them around the globe.
Last year he took home $11 million as his salary plus bonus, but his declared objective is to get round Australia’s strong employment laws so that he can pay his employees Asian sweatshop wages.
He is a scrote.
Thank goodness that even Juliar had sufficient balls to (indirectly) order Qantas back into the air.
Boadicea's Chariot 
I normally don’t like some of the language in this post – but I can’t think of any other way to describe this man.
Blimey.
We are used to this. BA do this all the time. 😦
In a Press conference which concluded a few minutes ago, Juliar and the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, effectively, although in polished pollie-speak, called Alan Joyce a liar. There was little doubt left that under the suave language, they dislike him intensely.
Strip him of his work visa or citizenship, if he has that, and send him on the first Chinese budget carrier to Ireland. He obviously has no love, or for that matter, even a scintilla of respect for Australia, its people, and its culture. Better yet, drop the tosser into Brussels. He qualifies for an EU job.
Nice one, Christopher. I’ll bet ASIO is already on the case. 🙂
He does have the sort of petulant, pouting sort of face that that was made to slap.
Whatever you think of this guy, his actions had the desired effect. I think the unions are equally to blame.
I am not sure that the damage has been that great. I mean, people have famously short memories when it comes to abandoning products and services that deliver what they want. Those who have sworn off Qantas will soon be flying on its planes again once the special offers come their way. If everybody who promised not to fly Ryan Air or BA again kept their word, both airlines would be out of business.
As for the economy, it would be a worry if one airline was capable of damaging the economy of an entire country. I think a bit of hyperbole has been used in this case. Yes it probably cost a few millions but these things have a way of sorting themselves out.
With regards to reputation, I am not sure that Australians are realistic in believing/expecting that PR snafus are only supposed to occur in other countries. Most world airlines are subject to similar cock-ups. Personally speaking, it does not alter for the worse my opinion of the country, the people or indeed the airline. I would have no qualms about buying a ticket on the airline. Yes I would be immensely pissed off if I was directly inconvenienced, but I believe it is all part and parcel of the world in which we live. But then I get immensely pissed off when some jackass makes me take my shoes off to check for bombs. I would rather take the risk that their might be a suicide bomber on board, but nobody listens to me. Workers have the right to strike and management has the right to deal with it the way it thinks best. Ultimately, in a capitalist economy, it is shareholders that count and ultimately it may well turn out that Joyce did the right thing in calling the bluff of the unions if it does mean more profit for the airline. Qantas and Australia are part of the global economy. No company is an island! It would appear that Joyce has taken a leaf out of the Blessed Margaret’s book. Amen to that, I say.
What with Willy Walsh at BA, Michael O’Leary at Ryan Air and Alan Joyce at Qantas, it seems the Irish are destined to rule the air. As an aside I bet Rolls Royce is enjoying a bit of schadenfreude at the moment following the blown up engine affair.
Bearsy – is he an Aussie citizen? If so, surely you go against all Aussie standards that you tell us all about with so much pride? Is he not surely just a gobshite and scrote, not an Irish one? If he isn’t, I withdraw with apologies!
I wonder why this is becoming headlines now? I recall Qantas becoming less and less Aussie for many moons, at least when I was working in the airport at Chch 6 years ago – half the Qantas crews were non-Aussies even then.
And, putting a fence sitting hat on (if a hat can sit on a fence?) – doesn’t a company have the right to run itself as it sees best for the shareholders’ profits? Qantas isn’t a nationalised company anymore is it?
And – while I’m being slightly naughty – to be disliked and called a liar by Juliar is a badge of honour, surely? 😉
Wiki says Irish born Aussie citizen……
Aha, he’s a shirt lifter……perhaps scrote is not an insult enough but certainly explains your ire…… 😉
Thanks for the comments everyone.
For FEEG, Sipu and Cuprum –
A few extra points of which you may be unaware –
You will note that I did not refer to the fact that he is a raging poofta, which might possibly upset the more fragile in the Greens – but even if I had, it still isn’t a crime here.
😀
Bearsy – We have the same Oirish problem at BA, an airline which, by all accounts, is a shadow of its former self.
Willie Walsh
OZ
Yes, OZ, I mentioned this point earlier, but I don’t think nationality has much to do with it, except that it does seem to be raised when things go wrong.
Araminta – Agreed on the nationality thing as regards the CEOs, but the analogies are too spooky and there are times when I could weep for British Airways as Bearsy is doing for Quaintarse. It started when they introduced those stupid tailfins that Maggie famously threw a ‘kerchief over and went downhill from there by all accounts.
Not having flown seriously for nearly twenty years I still remember the wonderful ‘Welcome Home’ experience (as per the adverts of the time) of boarding a BA 747 in some hot and humid place and breathing a sigh of relief. Because of my frequent Antipodean travel before we moved there, I was a BA gold/emerald cardholder and Zangada was silver/emerald. As such we were usually first in line for an upgrade to first class, and very nice it was too. “Good evening Mr and Mrs Zangado and when would you like to take dinner. In the meantime can we offer you a glass of Johnny Walker Blue Label and and a Bombay Sapphire, ice and lemon.”
We used to dine at 40,000 ft facing each other over a linen tablecloth covered in silver and crystal and I still have the first class pyjamas (his and hers) issued accordingly.
Those were the days.
OZ
OZ, that reminds me that when I retired three years ago, having been a Qantas Platinum Flyer for several years, I was awarded free lifetime silver membership. Once upon a time that would have meant something, but the rewards program has been so emasculated recently that it now means next to nothing.
Sad.
OZ, I’m a great fan of BA as was. They are the only airline which upgraded me to First Class, and it was bliss. Years ago we were CIPs or Commercially Important People, or some such nonsense.
It all seems to have gone to pot, but since I rarely fly these days, I’m not much bothered.
I’d forgotten that, Araminta. I was a CIP, for a while. Sigh!
Not as good as a VIP, Bearsy but the upgrades were OK!
I have to travel cattle class – except for one notable occasion that I flew back from the UK with Bearsy on a Qantas flight – when he, gentleman that he is, gave me his company-paid business class seat.
Since I have to travel economy, I choose an airline that treats me with a bit of courtesy – and that isn’t Qantas! Since there’s no difference in price why would I choose an airline that has scant respect for their customers?
Boadicea.
I’m glad to hear chivalry is not dead! I must admit I was very spoilt and the sheer hell of flying cattle class is something I try to avoid, but the sheer cost of anything else is prohibitive these days.
Don’t even mention the low cost carriers in Europe, I’ve only done it once, and never again!
For more detailed background into this dispute, this article in the Brisbane Times makes interesting reading.
Yes! I travelled on a low cost European flight – once! That was quite sufficient! Mind you one of my trips on a scheduled flight wasn’t much better! And then there was the time BA over-booked and they had to fly me to Milan and organise a car to drive me to Genoa… It’s probably not a good idea to travel with me! I’ve had to run across the tarmac and stop the plane from taking off…. 🙂
When I first came here, I travelled Garuda. Darwin – Bali – Jakarta – Singapore – Abu Dhabi – Paris – London… Coming back one had to stay over-night in Bali. The first time I flew Darwin – Singapore – London, I thought I was in heaven… I could actually sleep for more than a few hours at a time!
From our Chaser mates, a rework of a Qantas advertisement –
Bearsy: I am aware that Qantas describes it self as the national carrier, as does BA. That is half the problem. All staff at BA are paid considerably more than their equivalents in any other UK airline, and hence get little support when talking about striking here. This a relic of when BA was nationalised.
Bearsy – ta for the update #11 – and the smiley face at the end. I have no argument with your opinions of the chap and the massive negative impact on a once great Airline with whom I first flew in 1990 – thus starting my love affair with the Antipodes!
My point, if I may make it very softly, was that you extol the admirable virtue of Australia that everyone has to have the Aussie first, everything else second attitude once they become naturalised. (or even, in order to be naturalised!) You have often put us non Aussies on the Chariot in our place as the rest of world does label everyone, whereas you say that Aussies don’t….and yet you added the Irish word in your description of him, thus contradicting the Aussie way! He’s an Aussie gobshite, scrote and uphill gardener, surely? (and yes, I can call you shirley!)
Only being a pedant….it’s one of my better skills and allows me to be a pub quiz success! 😀 😀
Your comment deserves an in-depth response, Cuprum, for you are both right – and yet at the same time wrong. Or to put it another way, I am not deviating from reflecting a consistently Australian attitude in this post. 🙂
I was going to spell it out, but my opinions are no longer welcome on my own website, so I shall keep stum, lest my betters castigate me further for having the temerity to hold alternate, socially-inclusive, views.
Catch you late, mate. 😀