QANTAS CEO Alan Joyce has sought to address the uncertainty surrounding the carrier’s efforts to set up a full service Asian airline (TTG Asia e-Daily, November 28).
Recent media reports had suggested that Qantas’ plans to establish a premium carrier in Asia would be put on hold, as the Eurozone debt crisis affecting the global economy shows no sign of waning.
Joyce insisted it was vital for the Australian flag carrier to stick to its game plan and move quickly to set up the new subsidiary, possibly named RedQ, targeted at executives travelling in Asia.
”Nothing has changed about our preparedness to turn around our international business,” he was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying.
”If anything, it means we have to accelerate and keep on going with our plans to turn it around, because the high fuel prices and the economic conditions mean that the turnaround plan is critical.”
Meanwhile, airline alliances will reportedly play a key role in Qantas’ Asian expansion strategy.
According to a report in Australia’s The Age, Qantas has held “productive” discussions with future oneworld alliance member Malaysia Airlines about its plan to set up the new carrier, which would potentially be based out of Kuala Lumpur as opposed to Singapore.
