This Month
Former Rich Lister applauds Tritium sale despite $100m up in smoke
Former coal baron Trevor St Baker says the $45m sale of collapsed EV fast-charging station group Tritium crystallised a big loss for him, but new owner Exicom will be a good steward.
- Simon Evans
- Updated
- Aviation
Qantas board failed to challenge Joyce’s ‘command and control’
Qantas’ incoming chairman John Mullen said bonus practices at the airline had been problematic as the board was unable to override “the formulaic results of a compensation scheme” if there was a major scandal.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser and James Thomson
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Indispensable Joyce became excess liability for Qantas
That the former CEO stayed on long enough for hubris to set sad is reality behind an often striking success story.
- The AFR View
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Qantas case a timely warning for money-spinner Transurban
The flying kangaroo’s drama is relevant for Australia’s dominant toll operator, which is returning more cash than ever to investors despite political pressure.
- Anthony Macdonald
How the Qantas board fell for the cult of Alan Joyce
A scathing review of the national carrier’s board tells the story of a highly successful chief executive whose growing power was not adequately challenged. It ended badly for everyone.
- Updated
- James Thomson
Rex’s regional rivals eye an opportunity to expand into key routes
But others in the industry are urging the federal government to step in and provide funding to ensure towns aren’t left without services and staff are paid.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Dealmakers send out the sales pitch for the rebirth of stricken Rex
But Regional Express’ prospective buyers don’t have much time. Confidential documents put an August 30 deadline on binding buyout offers for the carrier.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Inside the boardroom civil war that brought Rex to its knees
Bad blood turned executives at the carrier against one another – just as its major lender was trying to sell the airline’s assets to Bain Capital.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Opinion
- Aviation
It wasn’t Sydney landing slots that sent Rex into a spin
Rod Sims and other critics of government aviation policy should analyse the facts before obsessing over slot-hoarding.
- Graeme Samuel
Qantas, Virgin’s hold on Sydney Airport slots to face challenge
Long-awaited changes to Sydney Airport are finally materialising as Labor commits to maintaining regional flights.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Battery EV sales slump as cautious buyers opt for hybrids
Hybrid vehicles – with a petrol- or diesel-powered engine and a smaller battery and electric motor – are proving very popular as some buyers baulk at full-battery EVs.
- Simon Evans
Ex-Macquarie exec Ben Brazil triumphs over Vietnamese billionaire
Brazil’s FitzWalter Capital is seeking $270 million in compensation from Vietjet, one of Asia’s largest airlines, which failed to return four Airbus aircraft.
- Kylar Loussikian
Rex chairman John Sharp breaks silence on CEO pay deal
Rex CEO Neville Howell is essential to keep the airline’s regional flights running because his employment is tied to its air operator certificate.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Buoyed by subsidies, Rex Airlines can rise again
The failure of the discount airline’s national strategy doesn’t spell the end of Rex, this aviation expert says.
- Justin Wastnage
Rex was months behind payments, as ratepayers left to foot bill
The collapse of Regional Express into voluntary administration is bad news for local councils still reeling from the loss of Bonza, which also left unpaid airport fees.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Phillip Coorey
- Opinion
- Aviation
After Rex’s failure, here is the answer to Australia’s airline competition problem
It would be in the national interest – and Qantas’ – for the government to create a successful duopoly by biting the bullet on foreign ownership of Virgin.
- Peter Harbison
Rex called in advisers in May, Westpac emerges as creditor
Documents filed with ASIC on Thursday show EY had been called in by Rex’s major lender PAG months before it went into voluntary administration.
- Ayesha de Kretser
July
Rex needs a buyer willing to spend big on planes
The government is downplaying its interest in a bailout, but may have no choice but to stump up to help keep the regions connected.
- Ayesha de Kretser and James Hall
- Updated
- Aviation
Over 600 jobs at risk after Rex grounds flights
Over 600 jobs at troubled airline Regional Express are at risk, the administrator told workers on Wednesday after the company’s shares were suspended and flights grounded between capital cities.
- Updated
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Rex turmoil flies into airline competition confusion
The Transport Minister seems too inclined to accept Australia’s two-airline syndrome, that a third player on the busiest routes will inevitably be trampled by Qantas.
- The AFR View
