Following the grounding of its fleet, Qantas is offering free return flights to customers who were disrupted by the action which took place last week. In an effort to regain brand loyalty Qantas is introducing several measures to compensate the tens of thousands of airline passengers who were stranded in Australia and abroad. Anyone affected by the grounding will be able to claim a free return flight anywhere in Australia or New Zealand. The free flights are expected to cost Qantas $20 million for an estimated 100,000 tickets. Qantas is “100 percent focused on what matters to customers,” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said in a statement. “This ticket offer is one of a range of initiatives we will be launching as a way of saying sorry.” Further offers to overseas customers and Qantas Frequent Flyer members will be made shortly. Transport Workers Union National Secretary; Tony Sheldon is unconvinced by the initiatives. “This company has 65 per cent of the domestic market yet they're saying there's a crisis,” he said. “Well, their balance book doesn't say that, their increases in profit don't say that and, certainly, a 71 percent wage increase for the CEO doesn't say that.” Sheldon was criticizes Qantas for overreacting against unions and insists that it took months for the airline to even discuss negotiations while it “stood over the government”. Sheldon expects Qantas to prompt a settlement and appeal any decision should the dispute go to arbitration. BM
