Showing posts with label Qantas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Qantas. Show all posts

11 March, 2024

Qantas commits to financing Reef Restoration Fund

      • Qantas partners with Great Barrier Reef Foundation to accelerate restoration of coral reefs
      • The national carrier to invest $10 million over 10 years including rollout of world-first coral restoration technology
      • Qantas Group launches Nature Action Plan outlining commitment to address nature and biodiversity loss

Qantas committing to financing reef restoration...
Qantas and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have launched a new fund that will help accelerate the restoration of Australia’s reef systems, including investment in Coral IVF programs, corals with increased heat tolerance and world-first portable coral nurseries.

Building on a 15-year partnership with the Foundation, Qantas will invest $10 million over 10 years in the Reef Restoration Fund to support scientists, Traditional Owners and local tourism operators restoring corals across the Great Barrier Reef and other iconic Australian coral reefs.

Great Barrier Reef Foundation Managing Director Anna Marsden and Qantas Group Chief Sustainability Officer Andrew Parker announced the partnership at the Australian Institute of Marine Science’s National Sea Simulator in Townsville.

Ms Marsden said: “Australia is the guardian of some of the most iconic coral reefs in the world. It’s a huge responsibility and we’re proud to see one national icon supporting another. This partnership will help fund critical actions at a critical time.

“Coral reefs are the beating heart of our oceans. They’re a nursery and safe haven for a quarter of all marine life and support a billion people worldwide. But the Great Barrier Reef, and coral reefs around Australia and the world, cannot adapt fast enough to warming ocean temperatures, making them one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. We must help safeguard their future from the impacts of climate change.

“We’ve made more advances in coral reef restoration science in the past five years than we have in the past five decades. Over the life of the partnership, we’re committed to finding opportunities to share these learnings with Australia’s other coral reefs.”

Mr Parker said the partnership is a key element of the national carrier’s Nature Action Plan, which launched last week.

“Connecting our customers with natural landscapes is at the core of what we do, including carrying millions of people to the reef each year,” said Mr Parker.

“We know that aviation is a high emissions industry, which is why we were one of the first airlines globally to commit to net zero emissions by 2050. We want to take the same leadership in addressing our impact on nature so that future generations can enjoy all the opportunities that global travel offers for years to come.

“By establishing the Reef Restoration Fund with our trusted partner of 15 years, we’re helping accelerate the development of world-leading technologies and projects to restore some of our most critical ecosystems.

“It’s part of our commitment to address nature and biodiversity loss by reducing the impact of our operations and supply chain, supporting the broader restoration of nature and advocating for cross-sector transformation.

“These commitments are just the first step. We are also developing rigorous nature-related targets and plans on how we’ll achieve them, which we expect to release by the middle of next year,” added Mr Parker.

02 January, 2024

First Airbus A220 arrived for Qantas in December


The first QantasLink Airbus A220 aircraft landed in Sydney on 20th December marking the next phase in the Group’s fleet renewal programme.  The aircraft, which features a special indigenous livery, was ferried from Airbus’ facility in Mirabel, Canada, and touched down at midday after stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi (Fiji).


It is the first of 29 A220s that will be delivered to QantasLink as part of the Group’s domestic fleet renewal program. A further 36 widebody aircraft are also on order.

The A220s have double the range of the Boeing 717s they replace, giving them the ability to fly non-stop between any two points in Australia. As the first aircraft of their type in Australia, the 137-seat aircraft are expected to open up new (direct) domestic and short-haul international routes as more enter the fleet.

Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the A220 would unlock improvements ranging from lower emissions to less noise and better passenger comfort.  “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome this new A220 aircraft, along with the benefits it will bring to our customers and career opportunities for our people.  The size and range of the A220 means we can add new direct routes to our network that may not have been commercially viable before.

More fuel efficient aircraft is one way we’re working towards net zero and the A220 generates around 25 per cent fewer carbon emissions than the previous generation as well as being much quieter.  This arrival marks the start of the biggest domestic fleet renewal program in Qantas’ history as the Group takes delivery of one new aircraft every three weeks on average over the next few years.

On the back of this fleet investment we’re recruiting more pilots, cabin crew and engineers and expect to create around 8500 local jobs over the next decade,” 
As the first A220 to be operated in Australia, the aircraft, registered as VH-X4A, will undergo regulatory approvals, airport readiness and crew familiarisation and training activities before it commences flying on the Melbourne-Canberra route in the first quarter of 2024. A dedicated A220 flight simulator for pilot training is based in Melbourne.

18 December, 2023

Qantas takes delivery of its first A220 to replace Boeing 717 jets

Australia’s national carrier has taken delivery of its first new generation A220, becoming the 20th operator of the type. The aircraft is the first of 29 A220s ordered by the Qantas Group for operation by QantasLink, their regional airline that services metropolitan and regional destinations across Australia.


Featuring a unique livery based on an Aboriginal artwork, the aircraft will depart the Airbus final assembly line in Mirabel in the coming days for a delivery flight to Sydney, with stops in Vancouver, Honolulu and Nadi.

The A220 will gradually replace the existing 717 fleet at QantasLink. Flying twice as far, the A220 can connect any two points across Australia non-stop, while also bringing a significant 25% reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions compared to previous-generation aircraft.
Qantas 717 being replaced

The A220 also has the largest cabin, seats and windows in its class, offering passengers superior comfort. With a total of 137 seats, Qantas’ A220s will be configured in a two class layout seating 10 passengers in business and 127 in economy.

Specifically designed for the 100-150 seat segment, the A220 is the most modern airliner in its size category. Powered by the latest generation Pratt & Whitney GTF™ engines, it can fly up to 3,450 nautical miles or 6,390 kilometres non-stop. 

As with all Airbus aircraft, the A220 is already able to operate with up to 50% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Airbus aims for all its aircraft to be capable of operating with 100% SAF by 2030. 

Airbus has received close to 850 orders from 30 customers for the A220, of which over 300 have been delivered worldwide.

27 October, 2023

Pilots from Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation to strike next week.

The Australian Federation of Pilots (AFAP) has advised Qantas subsidiary Network Aviation of a two-day work stoppage on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

AFAP members – who make up over 90 per cent of the pilot group employed by Network Aviation – will stop work from 0001 Wednesday 1 November to 23:59 Thursday 2 November.

“It is disappointing that there has not been any indication in the last four weeks that Qantas management might shift its position to bring its WA-based pilots’ wages and conditions into line with those of other Qantas Group pilots,” according to Senior Industrial Officer Chris Aikens.

“Unfortunately, our members at Network Aviation now have no other option but to give notice for lawful protected industrial action.”

After the first 24-hour work stoppage on 4 October, the company put forward another sub-standard offer – without seeking the endorsement of the AFAP which represents the vast majority of the pilot group in the bargaining negotiations – for the entire pilot group to vote on.

After an emphatic rejection of this offer – with 90% of the entire pilot group employed by Network Aviation voting ‘no’ – the next step appears to be a meeting mediated by the Fair Work Commission.

“Qantas management appears unwilling to take control themselves so have shifted the responsibility to the Fair Work Commission,” said Mr Aikens.  “We look forward to what new and revised offering the company proposes to take to the mediation on Monday,” he said.  “We are hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”

A Qantas spokesperson attacked the pilots and union accusing them of acting in bad-faith bargaining and called the action unreasonable.  "This latest strike action from the pilots' union is an unreasonable escalation of the dispute and comes just days after they increased their demands even further. - After originally asking for 50 per cent pay increases, the union is now demanding even more benefits."

23 October, 2023

Qantas halts take over plans of Alliance following regulatory opposition.

Qantas and Alliance Aviation Services Ltd Alliance have announced the termination of their May 2022 agreement for Qantas to fully acquire the Australian-based charter operator.

Qantas’ acquisition of Alliance was formally opposed by the competition regulator in April 2023. Both companies believe the acquisition would have created customer value without lessening competition in the highly competitive resources sector – particularly through the efficiencies created through a combined fleet of F100 aircraft. However, both companies acknowledge that there is no reasonable path forward for the deal at present.

Qantas will continue to serve the growing resources sector through its existing charter operations; it currently has around 27 per cent of the total charter market.

The Group will retain its shareholding of nearly 20 per cent of Alliance and will continue its long-term agreement that sees Alliance operate up to 30 E190s for the Qantas Group.

Qantas has agreed to exercise options over four additional aircraft under that agreement, which will bring the total number of E190s operated by Alliance for the Qantas Group to 26, with four options remaining. The additional aircraft are expected to join the Qantas fleet from April 2024.

Qantas Group Executive of Associated Airlines and Services John Gissing said: “Alliance is an important partner for the Qantas Group and the E190s have helped us open new routes across Australia. These four new aircraft will provide additional capacity and connectivity in the domestic market.”

Alliance Managing Director Scott McMillan said: “Despite the outcome of the transaction, we look forward to continuing our long-standing and productive relationship with Qantas.”   

26 September, 2023

Qantas provides market update


The Qantas Group provides the following update to inform the market of a material increase to investment in customer improvements, continued strength in travel demand and the impact of elevated fuel prices.

Customer improvements......


The Group will invest a further $80 million in customer improvements across FY24 in addition to the $150 million previously budgeted, which will be funded from profits.

This additional investment is aimed at addressing a number of customer ‘pain points’ through improvements such as better contact centre resourcing and training, an increase in the number seats that can be redeemed with Frequent Flyer points, more generous recovery support when operational issues arise, a review of longstanding policies for fairness and improvements to the quality of inflight catering.

Qantas is also working to accelerate some initiatives already underway, such as the re-platforming of the Qantas app. More detail on these actions will be shared in coming weeks.

Demand levels.....


Overall travel demand remains strong, with trading conditions in the first quarter of FY24 similar to the last quarter of FY23.

Qantas and Jetstar expect to carry more than 4 million passengers over the September/October school holidays and football finals period on almost 35,000 domestic and international services. This compares with around 3.7 million passengers on approximately 28,000 services over the same four week period last year.

Latest survey data shows that travel remains a top spending priority among Qantas Frequent Flyers over the next six months, well ahead of entertainment, renovations and homewares[1]. The Group greatly appreciates the continued support from customers choosing Qantas and Jetstar.

Fuel, fx......

22 September, 2023

Qantas releases annual report.....

The Australian airline Qantas has released its most recent annual report at a crucial time in the airline's history when its reputation is falling to an all-time low.  The carrier has recently drawn much criticism for continuing to sell tickets for flights it had already cancelled and not telling passengers of cancelled flights until the last moment, with the ACCC starting legal proceedings in August.  Qantas has also lost a legal battle after the federal court said the airline's replacing redundant grown staff with outsourced staff was illegal. The airline's new chief executive, Vanessa Hudson, has been ordered to attend mediation proceedings with a union chief to now settle compensation and penalty claims.

The airline reported a $2.47 billion underlying profit, while hundreds of customers are still waiting for refunds on axed flights. Its former CEO Alan Joyce was paid $21.4m for his final full year in charge, despite stepping down early.  His pay would have been higher but some of the promised bonuses have been withheld.  The carrier said it might even claw back some more money from Joyce should the reputational crisis continue. 

"We take our obligations under consumer law, and therefore these allegations, very seriously and are working through the legal process now underway. What we can say in the interim is Qantas’ longstanding practice is that when a flight is cancelled, customers are offered an alternative flight or a refund. However, in the interests of good governance, the Board will withhold payments under the FY23 short-term incentive program for senior executives while this matter progresses." said the group's chairman, Richard Goyder in the annual report. 

The airline has also suffered a series of hydraulic technical incidents with its Boeing 737 fleet which have seen passengers stranded on jets for hours. The delays and the reported poor customer service after the events are having a detrimental effect on the carrier's already tarnished reputation. 


11 September, 2023

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce retires ahead of schedule as legal action starts against the airline for selling and advertising flights it had already cancelled.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce has retired from the company around two months ahead of schedule the Australian airline has confirmed. 

Joyce said: “In the last few weeks, the focus on Qantas and events of the past make it clear to me that the company needs to move ahead with its renewal as a priority.

The best thing I can do under these circumstances is to bring forward my retirement and hand over to Vanessa and the new management team now, knowing they will do an excellent job.

There is a lot I am proud of over my 22 years at Qantas, including the past 15 years as CEO. There have been many ups and downs, and there is clearly much work still to be done, especially to make sure we always deliver for our customers. But I leave knowing that the company is fundamentally strong and has a bright future,” Mr Joyce said.

As a result, CEO Designate Vanessa Hudson has taken over the Group CEO role and takes on the mantle of Managing Director, ahead of a host of issues that could present problems for the group in the not-too-distant future. 

Qantas Chairman Richard Goyder said: “Alan has always had the best interests of Qantas front and centre. On behalf of the Board, we sincerely thank him for his leadership through some enormous challenges and for thinking well ahead on opportunities like ultra-long-haul travel.

As previously planned, shareholders will formally vote on the appointment of Vanessa Hudson as Managing Director at Qantas’ Annual General Meeting in November.

Some in the Australian aviation industry have indicated the thought that Joyce jumped early after the news broke that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission confirmed it was taking the airline to task after it was revealed that Qantas advertised and was selling tickets for more than 8,000 flights it had already cancelled in its system.  The ACCC is alleging Qantas was engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct in advertising the flights, scheduled between May and July 2022. 

The ACCC said Qantas had continued to sell flights that it had already cancelled on average of more than two weeks, and in some cases for up to 47 days. Equally disturbing is the revelation that Qantas did not notify existing ticketholders that their flights had been cancelled for an average of about 18 days, and in some cases for up to 48 days. 

 ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said: “The ACCC has conducted a detailed investigation into Qantas’ flight cancellation practices. As a result, we have commenced these proceedings alleging that Qantas continued selling tickets for thousands of cancelled flights, likely affecting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people”

“We allege that Qantas’ conduct in continuing to sell tickets to cancelled flights, and not updating ticketholders about cancelled flights, left customers with less time to make alternative arrangements and may have led to them paying higher prices to fly at a particular time not knowing that flight had already been cancelled.”

“There are vast distances between Australia’s major cities. Reliable air travel is essential for many consumers in Australia who are seeking to visit loved ones, take holidays, grow their businesses or connect with colleagues. Cancelled flights can result in significant financial, logistical and emotional impacts for consumers,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.

Just a few of the examples of flights allegedly affected as reported ACCC:

Qantas flight QF93 was scheduled to depart from Melbourne to Los Angeles on 6 May 2022. On 28 April 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 2 May 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 4 May 2022 (two days before the flight).
Qantas flight QF81 was scheduled to depart from Sydney to Singapore on 4 June 2022. On 8 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 27 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 28 March 2022.
Qantas flight QF63 was scheduled to depart from Sydney to Johannesburg on 31 July 2022. On 8 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 27 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 28 March 2022.
Qantas flight QF486 was scheduled to depart from Melbourne to Sydney on 1 May 2022. On 18 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 15 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 16 March 2022.
Qantas flight QF1785 was scheduled to depart from Gold Coast to Sydney on 1 May 2022. On 17 February 2022, Qantas made the decision to cancel the flight. Despite this, Qantas did not remove the flight from sale until 15 March 2022, and did not inform existing ticketholders of the cancellation until 16 March 2022.



The ACCC has investigated various aspects of Qantas’ conduct over the past three years. It has been engaging with Qantas directly on aspects of its customer service in an effort to get quick and equitable outcomes for consumers, however, the ACCC considers that Qantas needs to do more.

The ACCC continues to receive more complaints about Qantas than about any other business. Last year alone the ACCC received more than 1,300 complaints about Qantas cancellations, accounting for half of all complaints about Qantas reported to the ACCC.

Qantas said it takes these allegations by the ACCC seriously, but instantly tried to belittle the accusations by the ACCC by saying 'the period examined by the ACCC between May and July 2022 was a time of unprecedented upheaval for the entire airline industry'  Qantas also blamed it on COVID, saying it had struggled to restart following the pandemic "We openly acknowledge that our service standards fell well short and we sincerely apologise. We have worked hard to fix them since and that work continues."

"We will examine the details of the ACCC’s allegations and respond to them in full in court." the carrier said.


25 August, 2023

Virgin Australia boss blames sky high fares on lack of competition....

According to reports from Down Under, the boss of the budget airline Virgin Australia is blaming the sky-high airfares in Australia firmly on the government for quashing competition in favour of national carrier Qantas. 

Jayne Hrdlicka released a video to staff commentating on the Australian government's decision not to allow the Doha-based Qatar Airways to operate more flights to and from Australia to help keep pace with demand.    

The video was leaked to Daily Mail Australia and shows Hrdlicka telling employees that the ban makes no sense and that restricting the number of international flights was pushing up the price of flights, which in some cases are now double.

The Australian economy was also being detrimentally affected by the decision as fewer tourists are returning to Australia due to the high fares and lack of capacity,  Hrdlicka contested in the video. 

Qatar's ability to easily operate extra flights would dramatically improve the situation but the request had been rejected by the federal government meaning bad news for Australia and Virgin Australia - a service partner of Qatar Airways. 

Australia's transport minister Catherine Knight denied the request from Qatar Airways to operate 28 additional flights, claiming in Parliament it was 'not in the national interest'.

Yet it follows from the news that Qantas boss Alan Joyce voiced his opposition to the move to his friend the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It was then that the cabinet blocked it according to some reports.

Relations of Anthony Albanese have recently received free hospitality from the national airline, including the PM's son Nathan and girlfriend Jodie Haydon given free membership of the Qantas Chairman's Lounge.

Qantas' Joyce defended the airline's complete opposition to Qatar's request saying 'What we said when it came to Qatar...was there shouldn’t be rights granted when there’s a huge amount of capacity being put back into the market".  Qantas has just announced a multi-million dollar order for more long-haul jets from Boeing and recently reported a profit of  $2.5 billion whilst a number of staff have had to take second jobs to supplement their income.  

Qantas' service partner is the Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, which hasn't had any capacity requests turned down by the Australian government.   

24 August, 2023

Qantas orders four 787-9 and eight 787-10 aircraft from Boeing

Qantas nearly doubles Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet with order for 12 widebody jets




Boeing and the Qantas Group have confirmed they have signed a deal on a four 787-9 and eight 787-10 jets to provide a pivotal role in the Australian airline's global growth strategy to reduce its carbon emissions. 

"This is another multi-billion-dollar investment in the national carrier, and it's great news for our customers and our people," said Alan Joyce, Qantas Group CEO. "The 787 and the GE engines fitted to them, are thoroughly proven and extremely capable."

These jets are also capable of flying on a blend of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), an important pathway to reducing emissions, which is common with most of the modern Qantas jet fleet. The new order is part of Qantas' major fleet renewal programme that is significantly increasing the carrier's overall fuel efficiency each year.

"The 787 Dreamliner is central to Qantas' unwavering commitment to operate one of the most sustainable and capable fleets in the airline industry," said Stan Deal, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes. 

Capable of flying an expansive international route network, the operating economics of the 787 family enables Qantas to open new routes and add more flights to its existing network. The 787-9 can fly up to 7,565 nautical miles (14,010 km) connecting Australia to North America and Europe. The larger 787-10 with a range of 6,330 nautical miles (11,730 km), will enable the airline to serve many popular international and regional routes. Currently, Qantas has a fleet of 14 787-9 jets. 

22 August, 2023

Qantas to increase capacity on many routes....

The Qantas Group is currently operating at around 80 per cent of its pre-COVID international capacity levels, which has almost doubled in the past year, and has announced a massive increase in future capacity. 

The airline is adding more capacity on a number of routes including New York, Los Angeles, Johannesburg and Bali. Qantas expects it to reach 100% of pre-covid levels by March of next year.

Qantas has received three long-awaited Boeing 787s in recent months and is gradually able to return more of its Airbus A380s to service as they complete post-storage maintenance, which is enabling flying levels to steadily increase to meet strong travel demand.
 
New flying 

The national carrier is publishing more than 250,000 additional seats* to and from Australia that includes:

Sydney-Bali – larger Airbus A330 aircraft will replace daily Boeing 737 flights from October this year with more premium seats and fully-flat beds in Business Class.

Sydney-Auckland-New York – following the successful launch of the new route in June this year, flights will increase from four per week to daily from August 2024.

Sydney-Johannesburg – for the first time Qantas A380s will operate to South Africa from July 2024, nearly doubling capacity during peak periods.

Melbourne-Los Angeles – capacity will increase by around 20 per cent with more A380 flights on the route from July 2024.

Sydney-Los Angeles – flights will increase from eight to nine per week from July 2024, operated with a mix of 787 and A380 aircraft.


Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the additional flying would help support the sustained demand for international travel and provide a boost to the tourism industry.  “Hundreds of thousands of extra seats on our network is great news for our customers planning their next overseas trip,” said Mr Wallace.

“We know our customers are looking for great value and this additional capacity will put more downward pressure on fares.  The additional capacity will largely be made possible through our final two A380s returning to the Qantas fleet following heavy maintenance and cabin improvements.” 

More changes....

Sydney-Shanghai resuming in late October, operating for the first time in more than three years.

Brisbane-Honiara and Brisbane-Wellington launching in late October.

18 August, 2023

The best airlines for business class...

The Business Travel Index from Tipalti has analyzed factors such as service, lounge facilities, seat comfort and inflight entertainment, to reveal the airlines to travel on in business class. 




The top 10 best airlines for those travelling business class: 

Rank

Airline

Average Lounge Score

Average Seat Score

Average Inflight Score

Overall Score

1

Oman Air

4

5

3.5

8.39

2

Cathay Pacific Airways

4

4.8

3.75

8.28

3

EVA Air

4

4.6

4

7.93

4

Qatar Airways

4

4.2

4

7.7

5

Vistara

3.75

4.6

4

7.47

6

Japan Airlines

3.8

4

4

7.24

7

Asiana Airlines

4

2.8

3.75

6.09

8

Kenya Airways

4

4.8

2.75

6.09

9

Qantas Airways

3.8

3.8

3.25

5.98

10

Singapore Airlines

3.4

3

4

5.75




Topping the list of best business-class airlines is Oman Air, with an overall score of 8.39. The airline is based at Muscat International Airport and travels to over 50 destinations, including the likes of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt. 

Oman Air scores 5/5 across the board when it comes to its aircraft’s business-class seats, making it the highest-scoring airline in this category. It also receives 4/5 in areas such as staff service (both inflight and in the lounge), inflight entertainment, and lounge catering.

Following closely behind is Cathay Pacific Airways, which receives an overall score of 8.28. It is the largest airline in Hong Kong, with its head office located at Hong Kong International Airport. The airline provides flights to over 60 destinations, such as Seoul, Dubai, and Johannesburg.

Cathay Pacific Airways scores 4/5 for the comfort of its seats (both sitting and sleeping), as well as for their width and length, meaning those travelling long haul can rest comfortably. The airline also scores highly for its catering options in lounges, which include The Teahouse in the Pier Business lounge and Noodle Bar in the Wing Business lounge, both located at Hong Kong International Airport.

In third place is EVA Air, with an overall score of 7.93. It is one of the two largest airlines in Taiwan and has hubs in both Taoyuan International Airport and Kaohsiung International Airport. The airline flies to 30 different countries, including Thailand, Japan, and China.

EVA Air scores no less than 4/5 across all three categories, receiving 4 for both its lounges and inflight services and 4.6 for its seats. The airline scores 5/5 for the sitting comfort, width, and length of its seats, meaning that anyone choosing to travel with EVA Air is guaranteed to have a comfortable and relaxing experience when travelling long distances.




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