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Australia’s Qantas in alliance talks with Emirates
July 27, 2012, Sydney, Aus. - Qantas Airways Ltd. said it's in alliance discussions with a number of airlines including arch rival Emirates, sending the Australian flag carrier's shares up nearly 10 per cent.
July 27, 2012 By Carey Fredericks
The statement from Qantas on Thursday was in response to media reports that it is seeking to ally itself with Dubai-based Emirates as it struggles to stem losses in its international business.
The Qantas statement gave few details. It said strengthening its alliances is one of four prongs of a five-year business plan announced in August last year.
Emirates would not confirm or deny the talks, saying it does not comment on rumours or speculation.
The airline, the Middle East's biggest, is not a part of any of the three big international airline alliances. Executives have traditionally shown little interest in following other big carriers into the partnerships, saying Emirates is better off operating more freely on its own.
Qantas shares surged 9.6 per cent to $1.085 Australian dollars ($1.12) in Sydney. Its share price has fallen from AU$1.80 in late March.
