Money

Snakes on a plane? Qantas’ big issues with aircraft storage

Published

4 years ago

June 3, 2021

Qantas engineers maintaining the airline’s grounded Airbus A380 fleet in the Californian Mojave desert are facing a pretty big problem: Rattlesnakes are making homes in the landing gear

The airline moved its superjumbo fleet to Victorville aircraft boneyard for deep storage last year, due to the downturn in air travel and the suspension of its international routes.

The location’s dry heat and low humidity make it ideal for storing aircraft, but at the same time, it’s also an ideal environment for highly venomous rattlesnakes and scorpions.

The nasty critters are setting up home around the grounded planes’ tyres and landing gear.

Qantas says it does have a plan

The Aussie airline has revealed it has began using a “wheel whacker” to try and scare off the snakes before carrying out inspections.

Qantas is using a “wheel wacker” to fight off the snakes.

Meanwhile the airlines boss Alan Joyce has estimated the A380s won’t return to the skies until 2023, when demand for international travel is expected to recovered.

The world’s largest passenger aircraft, the A380 can carry up to 485 passengers in Qantas’s four-class layout.

Several Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which are also used for international long-haul routes, have also been put into storage at Mojave, though the airline recently announced it would start putting Dreamliners on its Sydney-Perth route.

Money

Secret IMF meeting sparks US-China truce

Covert IMF meeting sparks US-China trade breakthrough with 115-point tariff cut for 90 days, marking significant progress since the Trump trade war.

Published

16 hours ago

May 14, 2025

ticker NEWS

Covert IMF meeting sparks US-China trade breakthrough with 115-point tariff cut for 90 days, marking significant progress since the Trump trade war.

A covert meeting in the basement of the IMF has set off a diplomatic shockwave, leading to a major breakthrough in US-China trade talks.

Top officials from both nations have now agreed to slash tariffs by 115 points for 90 days—marking the first real progress since the Trump-era trade war began.

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Money

Gen Z and millennials surpass boomers in voting power

Gen Z and Millennials outnumber Baby Boomers in Australian elections, signaling potential reforms in taxation and inheritance laws.

Published

2 days ago

May 13, 2025

ticker NEWS

Gen Z and Millennials outnumber Baby Boomers in Australian elections, signaling potential reforms in taxation and inheritance laws.

For the first time in history, Gen Z and Millennials now outnumber Baby Boomers at the ballot box in Australia, marking a seismic change in the country’s political landscape.

Experts say this electoral milestone could spark major reform debates on taxation, superannuation, and inheritance laws as younger voters prioritise different values.

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Money

Stocks decline as tariffs and trade tensions escalate

Stocks drop as tariffs worry investors; gold hits record high; Canada resists U.S. annexation talk.

Published

1 week ago

May 7, 2025

Ahron Young

Stocks drop as tariffs worry investors; gold hits record high; Canada resists U.S. annexation talk.

In Short:
Stock indexes declined on Tuesday after a nine-day winning streak, while gold prices soared amid economic concerns. Major companies like Ford and Mattel adjusted forecasts due to tariff impacts, and the trade deficit hit a record high of $140.5 billion.

Stock indexes fell on Tuesday, following declines in the Dow and S&P 500 after a nine-day winning streak.

Gold prices reached a new record as markets reacted to ongoing economic concerns.

The downturn persisted following a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and President Trump, where Carney rejected any notion of Canada being for sale.

Investors showed continued apprehension about the impact of U.S. tariffs and the absence of new trade agreements, particularly as major companies like Ford and Mattel suspended annual guidance due to tariff uncertainties.

Ford impact

Ford, while less affected than competitors, estimated potential tariff impacts could reduce profits by $1.5 billion, prompting a 2.8% increase in its stock.

In contrast, Mattel’s stock rose by 2.6% after it signalled a potential increase in U.S. toy prices, anticipating a $270 million hit from tariffs, while also planning to move manufacturing from China.

Both WK Kellogg and Marriott International adjusted their financial forecasts downward due to tariff-related challenges and broader economic uncertainties.

Clorox shares fell sharply after the company updated its guidance to reflect tariff impacts.

Additionally, President Trump indicated he would announce the details regarding pharmaceutical tariffs within two weeks.

On a related note, new data revealed the trade deficit reached a record $140.5 billion in March, exceeding economists’ expectations and reflecting a surge in imports amid trade policy changes.