Joyce: Goal to merge QANTAS

[lovetravellingoz]

Over a "promo" cup of latte at lunchtime today (28 Nov) I was reading through todays Australian Financial Review and there was an extensive article interviewing Joyce the new incoming CEO of QANTAS (replacing Dixon).

One of his clear goals, or aspirations, is for QANTAS to be part of a new super-worldwide airline which may entail a merger or "super-alliance".

He wants QANTAS to be a leader, or a co-leader of it.

So interesting times ahead.....as QANTAS chases AirFrance/KLM or Luhfthansa/Swiss/BMI (Austria) or BA/Iberia

Unfortunately I do not have a link...but it is well woth a read.

 

[js]

AFR.com link to the original article is here for anyone who wants to read it in full.

 

[NM]

So interesting times ahead.....as QANTAS chases AirFrance/KLM or Luhfthansa/Swiss/BMI (Austria) or BA/Iberia

Interesting that the "alliances" mentioned are all European based. No mention of North America, Asia or SWP airlines.

Will be interesting to see if Qantas is able to play a leadership roll when dancing with the big boys of global airline domination.

 

[QF WP]

lovetravellingoz, funny I was reading the same article over lunch also making use of the Amex promo, but mine was a Chai Latte and a toasted sandwich.

I was interested in his 100-day, 10 point plan with supposed cost cutting of $120M (I think it was without re-reading the linked article:shock. I think he's in for an interesting time at the top.

Stull, good on him for being Irish

 

[JohnK]

Do any of these journalists bother doing any research for their articles?

He wants any agreement to be "at least a merger of equals". And he says the Qantas Sale Act, which prevents foreigners ownin more than 51 per cent of the airline's shares, will not be an obstacle.

I thought foreign ownership of Qantas could not be more than 49%.

 

[straitman]

Do any of these journalists bother doing any research for their articles?


I thought foreign ownership of Qantas could not be more than 49%.

JohnK,

I believe this goes a long way beyond anything most people would have thought about previously. This concept is that the major players would go way beyond the present 'One World' or 'Star Alliances' (etc) and actually involve the formation of super airlines so on an individual basis 'Qantas,' 'BA' etc would cease to exist.

This concept has been around for over ten years that I'm aware of and certainly has a lot going for it. For discussion purposes the airlines are loosely called 'white,' 'red' and blue airlines and would not be country specific in any way.

The theory of this is very practical and has many good points though the practical application is of course a lot harder :!:

 

[Lord Mud]

The BBC are reporting a Qantas BA merger right now so something must be in the pipeworks

 

[Mal]

UPDATE 2-British Airways says in merger talks with Qantas | Deals | Mergers & Acquisitions | Reuters

 

[macca172]

Qantas to merge with BA?.....well in my opinion it would be the first step on the road to self destruction!

 

[Platy]

Eh? The upside is all on BA's side.

Maybe the stunted celt actually does believe the Deathstar can take over the LCC niche in Europe given the right slots/connections etc. To boldly go where "Go" failed?! BA are taking QF for fools. Laughable.

 

[coco50]

A number of airlines have perished this year as a result of rising fuel prices and more recently, the global credit crisis. Perhaps mergers are a sign of the times. I wonder what the status is of the BA - AA - IB merger that made lots of news while I was in Spain in September. Does this mean that there will be a super carrier made up of QF/BA/AA/IB?

 

[pblackm]

I don't get the synergies thing. Two years ago I had to go to Vienna twice in three months. The first time was a oneworld DONE4. Two hours before landing at LHR, the pilot cheerily pointed out that we were flying over Vienna. Finally landed at Heathrow and had a flight change during the height of the liquids/baggage restrictions, and then back to Vienna on a BA flight. Additional trip time, approx six hours. On the next trip I flew Austrian, Syd/VIE/Syd - J class again, avoiding the Heathrow madness and saving hours. I also fly to the Middle East, India etc. Qantas needs a partner in an Asian hub to offer more direct flights to Asia, M/E and Europe

The only upside that I can think of is that BA may deign to let Qantas into Terminal 5.

 

[JohnK]

Qantas needs a partner in an Asian hub to offer more direct flights to Asia, M/E and Europe

Which is one of the reasons a lot of people were predicting Cathay Pacific as a possible merger partner of Qantas.

 

[oz_mark]

Which is one of the reasons a lot of people were predicting Cathay Pacific as a possible merger partner of Qantas.

There's quite a bit of chatter in Malaysia about MH and QF in discussions about some form of tie-up, although it is likely to be something other than a merger. I suspect they are still working on their maintenance tie up.