Howard backs airline merger
In a surprise move, Prime Minister John Howard has publicly stated that Qantas and Singapore Airlines should merge to form a ” great regional airline”.
The comments came after a meeting with the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. “They are two great airlines; they operate in the same part of the world. Qantas is a very efficient, capable operator but it’s a challenging economic environment.” the PM said.
The two leaders were engaged in a meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, where Mr Lee took the opportunity to press Mr Howard for Singapore Airlines to be given access to Qantas routes.
Quite how this will sit with Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon is not clear, particularly as only last week he stated that the time for a merger “had probably passed”.
A spokesman for the airline, Stephen Forshaw, said: “Qantas and Singapore Airlines are both listed companies and for there to be co-operation of the sort [the Prime Minister] suggests there needs to first be considerable liberalisation in the airline regulatory environment, and a willingness from the organisations, and their shareholders, to pursue a relationship.
“Qantas has recently ruled it out, and we have said it is an idea ahead of its time. Nothing has changed.”
The Government is considering options for other airlines to gain increased access to the Australian skies along with the question of foreign ownership of Qantas in the coming months.
The Mole
Graham Muldoon
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026