In Reply to: Qantas preventing Bali's Tourism....... posted by Putu_Les on Tuesday, 5. June 2007 at 11:36 Bali Time:
Well what an extraordinary piece of so-called journalism that was. Judging by the tone of E Travel's copy, it would be easy to assume that it contains a fair sprinkling of paid-puffery from Garuda! You are spot on DonRon...it is a nonsense to point the finger at Qantas - or Jetstar for that matter - and suggest that these two airlines are the major contributors to Bali's loss of appeal for many sections of the Australian market. Tourism is a commmercial business and Garuda has made a commercial decision to to burn 3 Australian ports completely, shed staff, merge the Melb & Syd ports as one route and reduce the number of flights through there. The airline then has the temerity to point at its efforts in WA where it has increased the number of flights. Sory Mr Garuda, but the last time I looked at a ap of Australia, the bulk of the population lived somewhat east of Perth. Mr Burchett then goes on to completely contradict his position by claiming that the Australians airlines seem disinterested, unwilling - or both, in catering to a burgeoning demand. What's wrong with Garuda Mr Burchett? This airline hasn't just ignored the opportunity, it's slapped the Australian market in the face and actually walked off the job! The fact is Garuda's poor management has finally caught up with it and it neither has the physical or intellectual resources to recover quickly enough. But of course that is mere speculation. Perhaps the final word is, Mr Burchett, if Garuda can't see the financial value in servicing the Australian market, why then would you expect the Australian airlines to invest its hard-earned in a market the Indonesian national carrier sees by its own deeds as being unviable? I look forward to hearing your reponse Mr Burchett.