Qantas exploring new airline with Tony says Sydney paper
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Australian airline Qantas is focused on starting a new airline with Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and making Kuala Lumpur its hub reported the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) yesterday.It said that Qantas CEO Alan Joyce was working to speed up the launch of its new Asian airline despite some reports that it has been shelved.
“Joyce is believed to be continuing to plug away at a number of start-up venture proposals with Fernandes in Malaysia,” said SMH.
It added that a deal with the AirAsia co-founder would give Qantas ready access to a bank of aircraft orders once regulatory approval was granted.
“It also gives Qantas the option to use Kuala Lumpur as a cheap hub to fly passengers to Europe,” said the report. “This means it could scrap the Sydney to London service and instead use its Asian airline to run its international routes to Asia and Europe.”
Joyce was earlier reported to have said that Qantas planned to start a premium airline in either Kuala Lumpur or Singapore next year.
Fernandes meanwhile said on November 14 that he had “ideas” for a super premium airline but declined to reveal the name or any further details.
He also said that if he started a new premium airline, it would involve Malaysia Airlines, in which he also holds a substantial stake.
Attempts to reach Fernandes for comment were unsuccessful.
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