MELBOURNE – It was hardly the best introduction to Australia when dozens of buyers attending the Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meeting Expo (AIME) were treated to delays and considerable inconvenience when they arrived in Melbourne last Saturday.
AIME brings hundreds of high-profile international travel buyers into Australia, industry leaders who have the potential to book millions of dollars of business for hotels, tour operators, car and coach rental companies, venue operators, caterers, event organisers and others.
A wildcat strike by Qantas baggage handlers at Melbourne Airport left some passengers either without their luggage on arrival or – in TravelMole’s case – waiting around for a delayed domestic flight to Melbourne for four hours.
At a time when volunteer firefighters were still clearing up the remnants of the devastating bushfires in Victoria, it was an especially callous call by the baggage handlers to strike at this time.
For Qantas, a bad 2008 is not turning out to be a good 2009.
So much so, that the Herald Sunin Melbourne reveals that Qantas is set to slash prices and emotionally appeal to Australians to support the national carrier.
Speaking in London, Qantas executive John Borghetti said that not since the SARS flu scare seven years ago had the airline embarked on such a large campaign to remind people about the Flying Kangaroo brand.
Borghetti conceded the airline’s reputation had suffered in the past 12 months and the recession had dampened demand for travel.
He said the airline was going all out to give price deals such as two-for-one airline tickets, kids fly free offers and general price slashing, particularly ahead of the delivery of its fourth A380 in May.
