Is the tide already turning at Qantas?

I did the same thing recently when flying from Sydney to Melbourne and found that Rex’s new jet service between east coast capital cities is more reliable, perfectly comfortable and far more affordable than either Qantas or Virgin. They also provide a checked bag and a snack with every ticket.

If people are that unhappy with what Joyce has done to Qantas or Bain Capital has done to Virgin, why not give the competition a go? With your savings, you can buy your own drinks and relax in the terminal, which is often less cramped than those overcrowded lounges.

Jack Goodman, St Leonards, NSW

Customers’ ‘me-first’ attitude is just as bad

Your recent focus on Qantas and its now retired CEO, while understandable, also paints a not-so-flattering portrait of the flying public in general.

Your recent letters columns are replete with stories of hacked-off customers describing their own misfortunes, if they can be called that, with an airline that many Australians considered their own. And apparently, some still do.

To more than a degree, the litany of experiences detailed in the letters’ column tells us more about ourselves than we might care to want to know.

For some almost inexplicable reasons, the experience of flying tends to bring out the worst in our behaviour, most especially when it comes to our beliefs around personal entitlement.

That sense of entitlement begins with the booking of seats, followed by the generally chaotic boarding experience and onto those we are seated alongside. It is not pretty and one can only feel a sense of empathy for the cabin crew who have to manage us, and our selfish attitudes, time and time again.

It was not so long ago when the event of flying was lauded as an experience of deep fascination and enjoyment for children and adults alike. Sadly, our “me-first” attitude has rendered those days long past. Good luck to Alan Joyce. I’m sure he will be leaving with some sense of relief.

Ralph McHenry, Brighton East, Vic

An ombudsman for airline complaints

If Vanessa Hudson really wants Qantas to be customer-focused she would lobby the government to set up an Ombudsman for airline complaints like we have for financial services and telecommunications.

This independent and impartial body would ensure that the rights of consumers are protected.

Canada has an ombudsman for airline complaints and by all accounts it works. If Hudson is genuine about customer focus and her comments are not just a PR exercise, then she should support this initiative.

Barry Lizmore, Ocean Grove, Vic

Lobbying denial not credible

I very seldom side with Peter Dutton, but I cannot believe that the Albanese government was not lobbied over Qatar Airways’ additional flights to and from Australia (“Dutton targets King over Qantas as ‘evasive’ in a ‘murky situation’”, September 7).

Lobbying governments is standard practice in business and a normal part of the work of government ministers and senior Members of Parliament.

That leaves the question: why would federal Transport Minister Catherine King strenuously deny that she was lobbied by Qatar? I doubt that we shall ever be privy to the answer.

Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin, ACT

Qantas’ hypocrisy got it into trouble

I’m happy with Qantas’ support for causes such as Indigenous recognition, the Voice, minority rights and emissions mitigation.

I do object, however, to Qantas’ rectitude on these issues while behaving unethically towards its customers.

Qantas, it’s not the expressed virtue that gets you into trouble, it’s the hypocrisy.

Ian Satchwell, Swanbourne, WA

Time to bring back the Fin

Under Mr Goyder’s “more humble” Qantas, how long will it be before The Australian Financial Review is returned to the Qantas Club? I would have thought this would be the first step.

Darren McMillan, North Adelaide SA

Langton too late to change minds

Professor Marcia Langton’s address to the National Press Club was illuminating and strident (“ALP must plan on Voice failure”, September 7).

Her commitment to the Voice and closing the gap is clear, but her presentation did little to persuade those not yet having decided to vote Yes.

The barrage of criticism unleashed against the No camp and the uncompromising language used would have grated with many uncommitted listeners.

However, one must acknowledge that what she said did come from her heart and her aim to better the lives of First Nations peoples. And she raised a real question, not only for the government but also for the Yes camp, as to how to best cope with a No outcome in the referendum.

Michael Schilling, Millswood SA

Voice can benefit our flora and fauna

As someone who loves Australia’s natural landscapes and its native plants and animals, I am excited by the possibilities of an Indigenous Voice.

As a Non-Indigenous Australian, I believe we have so much to learn from people who have lived on and cared for this unique land for more than 60,000 years.

Now more than ever, we need innovative thinking and new approaches to protect biodiversity, manage fire and support the resilience of human communities in the face of climate change.

Working more closely together and incorporating Indigenous thinking and practices into the ways that we all interact with our unique natural environment is the best chance we have to protect it into the future. I will certainly be voting Yes.

Emma Smith, Brunswick West Vic

Eraring can be closed on time

Thanks to Tim Buckley for his insightful article on the pending closure of the Eraring coal-fired power station.

It is difficult to understand why the Minns government would consider extending the life of this white elephant.

Last year, forced blackouts because of the unreliability of our old coal-fired power stations left the grid short of capacity for months. On top of that, we are already seeing the cost of natural disasters intensified by global warming.

An example is flood damage, which cost the economy about $5 billion last year according to economic modelling. As Buckley points out, there are already viable renewables projects such as the solar and batteries project for NSW public schools in the pipeline.

The NSW Energy Security Corporation has $1 billion in funding for renewables investments. The Australian Energy Market Operator has revealed that with a more proactive response to the renewables rollout, the Eraring closure can be done on time.

Anne O’Hara, Wanniassa ACT