QANTAS TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS

Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Geoff Dixon, said that Qantas would continue to discuss the proposal for Singapore Airlines to raise its stake in Air New Zealand-Ansett with political and regulatory authorities on both sides of the Tasman.

Mr Dixon said Qantas still felt that the proposed deal would give Singapore an undue level of influence in the aviation industry in this part of the world.

“The issues raised by the plan transcend commercial considerations and go to the heart of competitive and regulatory issues,” Mr Dixon said.

“It would be unprecedented for the Singapore Government to control its own airline, Singapore Airlines, as well as Air New Zealand, Ansett Australia and Ansett International. This would not happen in any other part of the world,” he said.