Pressures mount for beleaguered Qantas

The name Qantas was once synonymous with all that was good about aviation－a perfect safety record, a loyal workforce, and service that was second to none.

However, the airline's reputation is in tatters today, with complaints abound about flight cancellations, lost luggage, long check-in queues and all-around poor service.

Also, the outsourcing of much of the airline's maintenance work offshore with little or no Qantas oversight is raising doubts on whether the carrier will be able to maintain its enviable safety record.