Monthly Archives: September 2001

From what has been happening, it sounds like Air New Zealand had been siphoning money out of Ansett by charging fuel and catering costs against the airline and possibly doing so after it knew Ansett was bankrupt. This has caused Ansett workers to call for a boycott of Air NZ, which the NZ PM doesn't like much. To save money, the .au Government allowed the two domestic airlines (Qantas/Australian Airlines and Ansett) to build the air terminals themselves. At almost every domestic airport in australia, you will see a Qantas half and an Ansett half (usually with different architecture, etc). Separate checkins, separate bagage collection, separate arival/departure gates, etc. Now half of every domestic air terminal is left closed. Those people who happened to own shops inside an Ansett terminal can't open for business. I really hope some of the smaller airlines (such as Virgin) will finally be allowed to use Ansett's space in the domestic terminals, which will allow them to compete more evenly than before (before they often had to use other buildings round the airport or the international airport terminals). The ACCC is going to toughen the rules for airlines so that this change doesn't make it even more difficult for new airlines to break into the business. In news on the Tampa refugees, the courts are going to rule on the Government's apeal today.

It is really sad hearing so many people in the US out for blood (I have no way to tell how many people feel this way -- the internet+media can give a very skewed perspective on things). The terrorists killed many innocent people in the WTC, most likely because of issues they had with the US govenment and foreign policy. If the US turns around and kills innocent Palestinians or Afgahns (or where ever they happen to be based) in order to get the terrorists, that would be just as bad an act of terrorism. In local news, Ansett has stopped flying, which means the only interstate domestic airline serving Perth now is Qantas. I hope the ACCC keeps air fares in check. It seems that even though Judge North ruled in favour of the Tampa refugees, they are still going to Nauru until the government is finished apealing the judgement. I don't know anyone who approves of how the government treats boat people.