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As a pilot I’m acutely aware of the hazard cabin baggage creates in an emergency.

I wish airlines and governments would ban carry-on duty-free booze.

In an accident or heavy landing these bottles can become projectiles, some of which are full of combustible liquids.

Try carrying on a bottle of mentholated spirits and see how far you get, yet brandy is OK? Go figure.

Analysts expect little interest in Qantas International

Michael says: Emirates has the right idea.

“We buy planes and invest in products, we don’t buy shares.

” Reminds me of what Air NZ says – “If I look after my people they’ll look after the customers, and the customers will look after the share price.

” It’s all about the customer, Mr Joyce.

If you look after your customers you can have a viable Qantas International despite the high cost of wages and all that guff.

Cutting costs is the Panadol you take when you have a headache – it contains the problem in the short term.

Getting more customers, and making sure they’ll want to fly with you again next time, and tell all their friends to fly with you, is the real solution.

Neil Hansford says: It’s one thing to try and find a partner in the “fire sale” but how much of a present and future problem is the pro-rating agreement with Emirates? The more pax that are originated on a QF domestic sector then onto EK or fed into a domestic sector from EK the moreCutting costs is the Panadol you take when you have a headache – it contains the problem in the short term.

potential there is for the Qantas International performance cancer to spread into the QF mainline and QantasLink businesses that at least have a reasonable future.

If there isn’t a minimum pro-rate to Qantas then the more traffic that EK generate the more QF domestic will face declining yield where they are carrying passengers for far less than they are prepared to discount to their loyal domestic customer base.

When will there be acceptance that the Qantas International business model, built around the A380, is broken and needs a complete rework by new management and board?

QantasLink to start flights to Brisbane West Wellcamp

Sally says: Skytrans would always look after the passengers though.

If Qantas loses support and withdraws, stranding Toowoomba, Skytrans would return no questions asked.

The Skytrans crew are so personable and lovely, I will miss them.

Brett says: Crossing fingers for people out that way.

I’m from Gladstone, and have watched Qantas out-muscle all competitors for the last 15 years.

Price war –> smaller airlines withdraw –> prices rise back to normal.

Now we have Virgin flying here, but the net result is a duopoly, there to service the high levels of FIFO workers travel.

Thumbs up for the new airport though.

Massive achievement.

RAAF Herc undertakes Iraq air drop

Mr S Myers says: Thought it would be great to mention that it was the Army unit of 176 Air Dispatch Squadron that actually manufactured and rigged these loads.

This is the only unit within the Defence Force that is capable of this job.

Yes, great job 37SQN, but also great job to the guys of 176 Air Dispatch Squadron