Qantas just dropped a bit of a bombshell in its latest update, and it's something that might hit your wallet if you're planning to fly with them. They're giving us the heads up that the rising fuel costs could mess with our flight ticket prices.
This news came out on September 25, 2023, along with some updates on how Qantas has been doing lately. According to the airline, the cost of fuel has shot up by about 30% since May 2023, and there was an additional 10% jump in August.
They're blaming this price hike on a combination of factors: oil prices going up, refiners making more money, and the Australian dollar losing some value. If this trend continues, Qantas is looking at shelling out an extra $128 million (that's AUD $200 million) to $1.2 billion (AUD $2.8 billion) in fuel costs for the first half of 2024.
Now, before you start panicking, Qantas is saying they'll do their best to swallow these extra costs. But they're also keeping a close eye on fuel prices, and if they stay high, they might have to make some adjustments. Their goal is to find a balance between covering these extra expenses and keeping travel affordable, especially in a time when fares are already on the pricey side. They made all of this clear in a statement they released.
But here's something to ease the news a bit. Qantas is planning to put $52 million (AUD $80 million) into making things better for us passengers in 2024. They're focusing on fixing what they call "pain points" that we've been experiencing.
This update came just a few days after Qantas' CEO, Vanessa Hudson, said sorry to all of us. She acknowledged that it hasn't been the best time for the airline and asked for our patience as they work on making things right.
They're increasing the number of people at their call centers, offering more frequent flyer seats, reviewing their customer policies, and giving their teams more flexibility to help us when things go south. And that's just the beginning, according to Hudson.
Now, it's not all roses for Qantas lately. They've been making headlines for the wrong reasons. They lost a legal battle with a union over laying off thousands of ground staff back in 2020. Plus, they're facing another lawsuit from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for allegedly selling tickets for flights they had already canceled. The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) is also calling for a major shake-up of Qantas' board.
So, there you have it—Qantas is grappling with some challenges, but they're trying to keep us in the loop and improve things for passengers.
QANTAS WORKERS WIN! The High Court has unanimously dismissed Qantas’ appeal over the illegal outsourcing of 1700 workers.
— TWU Australia (@TWUAus) September 13, 2023
This is a massive victory for the workers who have not stopped fighting for justice since they were outsourced. pic.twitter.com/0LGktEuqZm
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