Back in Black

Over the past ten years Qantas has probably had to negotiate the toughest challenges in its long, iconic history, capped off by last year’s record $2.8 billion loss. Today, a new picture is emerging that holds glimpses of better times ahead. Has Australia’s national flag carrier finally turned the corner… or is this a false dawn? Tom Ballantyne looks at the airline’s prospects.

If there is one thing that is certain about Qantas Airways’ Irish-born Australian chief executive Alan Joyce it’s that he is no quitter.

There may be a few pundits out there who believe the fact he’s still at the helm is a minor miracle, given the trials and tribulations – financial and otherwise – his charge has negotiated over the past fewyears. Yet there is one indisputable fact: appointed in November 2008, he still has the solid backing of his board and is showing no signs of suffering from a seven year itch to move on.