John Travolta Gets Axed By Qantas In Union Battle
SYDNEY: Qantas is axing Hollywood actor John Travolta's safety video from flights in a move the pilots' union Wednesday claimed was linked to their industrial dispute with the Australian airline.
In the pre-flight video, the Saturday Night Fever star — a certified pilot and owns an ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138 airliner — tells passengers “there is no one I'd rather have at the controls than a Qantas pilot”.
The Australian and International Pilots Association claims the airline is planning to replace pilots with outsourced and offshore alternatives and said the Travolta message was now considered inappropriate.
“Admittedly, the John Travolta in-flight video had its fair share of detractors, but the one line I think everyone agreed with was that there is no one you would rather have at the controls than a Qantas pilot,” said AIPA vice-president Richard Woodward.
“In simpler times, this would be an uncontroversial remark, but with Alan Joyce now eager to outsource Qantas pilot jobs overseas, well, suddenly Travolta is out of step with the CEO.”
Some 1,700 long-haul pilots voted last month to take their first industrial action in 45 years following stalled contract negotiations — holding out the possibility of a two-day strike as a last resort.
Pilots on some flights made unauthorised in-flight announcements telling passengers about their dispute, and urging their support in “keeping Qantas pilots in Qantas aircraft”.
Qantas rejects the outsourcing claims and said the Travolta message was always intended to be a “temporary feature”.
“The change of video had absolutely nothing to do with the pilots' union,” a spokesman said.
“Contrary to their claims, all Qantas flights are operated by Qantas pilots. The union wants pilots for other Qantas Group airlines, like Jetstar, to be paid the same rates as Qantas pilots and we cannot agree to this.”
Qantas, which is also in dispute with its engineers about wages and conditions, says the pilot demands would drive up airfares, cost jobs and make the carrier unprofitable.
-AFP/mt
Channel News Asia
Boy Hamzah Bergetar Jumpa Kiera
Ditulis oleh Rosli Manah
“Inilah pujaan hati saya… yang kebetulan ditemui di lokasi shooting ini yang bikin hati saya berdebar-debar… berbeza dengan apa yang saya lalui sebelum ini.
“Saya kenal dia sudah lebih dua minggu. Masa itu saya rasa jantung saya tak boleh diam. Saya bertanya… Ya Allah adakah ini orangnya yang saya selalu meminta doanya,” kata pelakon kacak Indonesia, Boy Hamzah pasal wanita yang membuatkan dia mudah jatuh cinta, seorang pelakon baru, Kiera.
Kiera atau nama penuhnya Kiera Sabirah Jaafariah adalah pelakon yang sama-sama berlakon dalam drama Dikejar Surga yang kini sedang rancak menjalani penggambaran. Ia sedang ditayangkan di saluran MNC di Indonesia.
Pada awalnya dia akui ragu-ragu kalau perasaan itu hanyalah sekadar cinta lokasi semata-mata. Tapi menyedari timbulnya perasaan berlainan dalam dirinya dan dia tidak dapat melupakan gadis itu, lalu Boy segera menyatakan cinta.
“Saya rasa tak main-main dan saya juga tak mahu kehilangan dia, maka saya ucapkan cinta saya,” kata Boy yang kini dapat ditonton lakonannya di TV Malaysia menerusi sinetron Nikita.
Boy juga sempat berkenalan dengan keluarga Kiera malam sempat bersahur bersama selepas selesai menjalani penggambaran. Dia nampak kebaikan keluarga wanita itu yang membuatkan dia lebih yakin untuk meneruskan hubungan mereka.
“Pacar saya ini orangnya manja, apa-apapun yang dia mahu, harus dituruti dulu. Kalau dia sedang membeli-belah, kena selesaikan dahulu sebelum cari restoran untuk makan.
“Saya kena banyak bersabar sebab dia anak tunggal. Doakan saja semoga Lebaran tahun ini saya tidak sendiri lagi, ada kekasih dan keluarga baru,” kata Boy melalui BBM kepada Mangga Online hari ini.
Pelakon filem Dalam Mihrab Cinta itu juga seronok bercerita pasal Kiera malah apabila ditanya media pasal hubungan mereka, Boy tidak mahu berselindung malah berterus terang meluahkan rasa hatinya yang begitu berbunga-bunga terhadap Kiera.
“Doakan Lebaran kali ini saya tidak sendirian lagi,” kata Boy kepada Mangga Online.
Foto: Album Boy Hamzah
Mangga Online