Customer Reviews

Ansett: The Collapse

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This book traces the fascinating history of the rise and fall of Australia's (then) second largest airline and the transport pioneer who built the airline, Sir Reginald Ansett. The book outlines the airlines beginnings in rural Victoria, through its glory days as part of News Corp, to ownership by Air New Zealand and its eventual fall, attempted resurrection and final collapse.

The book is well written, in an easy, journalistic style and makes a compelling read. The first few chapters outline the history of the airline and set the scene for why the airline went into administration in September 2001, detailing why it was financially unable to survive the post-9/11 collapse of the global airline industry. The second half of the book covers the attempts to revive the airline, the politics of blame and the backroom dealings that attempted to save thousands of jobs and an Australian icon.

Ansett - The Collapse covers an important part of Australian corporate history and indeed social history, as thousands of employees lost their jobs and hundreds of thousands more were indirectly affected. It pitted union muscle against big business and ultimately changed the way that workers entitlements are protected. Well worth the read on this fascinating part of history.