In Reply to: Qantas preventing Bali's Tourism....... posted by Putu_Les on Tuesday, 5. June 2007 at 11:36 Bali Time:
Pardon the shouting but this article got me bloody mad.
Surely, E-Travel Blackboard's writer penned that statement in jest.....I would hardly call cutting 3 direct flights a week from Brisbane, 2 from Adelaide and a couple from NZ, then permanently closing these offices and laying off loyal aussie staff (some who have been with Garuda for near on 30 years), as "doing what it can".... do you ?
Sure, Garuda will say "we just put an extra flight on from Sydney every Wednesday", big deal, but they chopped 6 or 7 flights a week prior to doing that. Imagine the uproar from our tourism and hotels associations too if Qantas were to slash its services by similar numbers from its major tourism sources inbound to Australia.
I spoke with travel agent Nicki Lawson who many on here will know specialises in Bali travel earlier today, the poor lass is pulling her hair out trying to find seats for aussies wanting to go to Bali. Nicki said that there is basically no economy seats this side of August. Sure, dribs and drabs come back in from wholesalers as confirmation deadlines come and go and from the odd cancellation but they are snipped up just as quickly by many sitting on waiting lists. Imagine where we would be at the moment if Jetstar hadn't kicked off flights to Bali, (and do I need to remind you who owns Jetstar ???).
I agree with everything Michael Burchett said, that the lack of airline capacity is the biggest hurdle in getting Australians back to Bali but, I don't think shooting down the flying kangaroo is the answer. Qantas is an Australian airline, it's primary goal is to bring tourist to Australia not to look after Bali and for my money that buck rests fairly and squarely on the shoulders of Garuda as far as I'm concerned. There are some rumours floating around industry circles as to why certain "big wigs" in Garuda are allowing this happen and if only found to be half true are a bloody disgrace.
Nope....kicking Qantas in the guts for this doesn't sit right for mine...it's the Garuda execs that need a flogging for turning their backs on the aussie tourists and not being prepared to "tough it out" as others have done allowing time for recovery. Their knee jerk reaction to bomb two in pulling out on Brisbane, Adelaide and on the Kiwi's has exacerbated the problem, the proof now being not enough seats ex-Sydney and Melbourne to now cater for the demand.
By the way I am not a Qantas shareholder, I have been travelling to Bali since the late 70's and flown every time with Garuda. My wife even worked for them in the 80's so I don't have a Garuda axe to grind, I just simply believe that if we are to play the blame game here we should be pointing fingers in the right direction.