Qatar Airways to acquire 25% of Virgin Australia

[Thibault]

If I am not mistaken, those Tier Benefits are new additions for QR PC passengers travelling on VA ?

Previous VA PDF with the benefits :

https://www.virginaustralia.com/content/dam/vaa/docs/agency-hub/VAA0167_VAXQatar_Airways_A4_Digital_Flyer_R5a_FA_Screen%20V2.pdf

 

[elanshin]

Odd to you perhaps, but to the REAL world, seeing airline stock tanking, I'd hate to be those VA suits this week doing their national roadshow to potential investors trying to get them to invest money in this airline, in an IPO this year.

They are a Virgin partner as it happens, and a litmus test of the industry overall, and losing near 30% of their value year to date is NOT what savvy fund managers will be brightened up seeing. The other major US carriers stock prices have tanked as well in 2024 as you'd know if you have done ANY research. Seeing you clearly do not believe me, maybe the Wall Street Journal might be acceptable source?

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-tariffs-trade-war-stock-market-04-02-2025/card/airline-shares-fall-on-trump-tariffs-dqgQlBoD0t1T8gs4s3qq?siteid=yhoof2

I pray MY Super Fund dos not invest in Virgin.


'RooFlyer advises us on AFF, that you have NOTHING to worry about, and it is 'NOT A BAD TIME TO GO' is possibly their only plus they can put forward. I'm sure that will sway the real players.

They'll be as unwelcome as a Tesla car salesman knocking on their door right now.

Not sure if you are aware of Rooflyers background, but he probably has more knowledge about markets and IPOs than most people.

He's not suggesting that as a whole the markets aren't negative. But the negativity isn't specific to VA. Its just a global upheaval.

In that sense as well - there is absolutely no telling when this is going to end so from that PoV they may need to push through despite the prevailing market situation. We have no idea if the light at the other end of the tunnel is in 3 months, 12 months, or until the end of this US administration or even further. Not sure if Bain can just keep waiting for an unknown future date in time.

This might not be the most ideal time to IPO, but its still a solid company with solid profitability right now. Bain may just not get as much as they hope they would've gotten before.

Also not sure if you're aware yourself. The best time to invest in safe blue chips is when the rest of the market decides to fire sale things. Especially blue chips that hasn't had much changes to their fundamentals.

 

[RooFlyer]

They are a Virgin partner as it happens, and a litmus test of the industry overall, and losing near 30% of their value year to date is NOT what savvy fund managers will be brightened up seeing. The other major US carriers stock prices have tanked as well in 2024 as you'd know if you have done ANY research. Seeing you clearly do not believe me, maybe the Wall Street Journal might be acceptable source?

As for the WSJ - no, not an acceptable source when we are talking about an Australian mostly domestic airline IPOing. Ludicrous concept. When the US housing market was tanking, did you perceive any reticence here in buying a house?

And since when was UA a 'litmus test for the industry overall' - other than they just expanded their footprint into Adelaide, and making VA award inventory immediately available . Why not ... let me see ...ummmm .. Qantas? The 'litmus test' for the value of VA in an IPO is mainly a combination of its earnings going forward, its potential growth, confidence in strategy and leadership and the strength of the local IPO market, which will be influenced by the global economy, flowing into the appetite for risk capital. Not some very large, random, US international airline.

EDIT. Oh, and some sizzle. Steak not nearly as attractive without some sizzle (old IBers saying).