Air NZ mulls 15% share of Virgin Blue

[anat0l]

*prays that this thread will not turn into a new "who killed AN" thread*

 

[dajop]

*prays that this thread will not turn into a new "who killed AN" thread*

Amen to that. And I'm not even religious.

 

[pauly7]

*prays that this thread will not turn into a new "who killed AN" thread*

Haha yes.... Please.... Everyone knows it was Air New Zealand, using dodgy accountants, in corporate HQ

 

[docjames]

Hello all,

No VB is no more to blame than QF. However, Air NZ I do feel has some what "dirty hands"

The reason why VB is on our "no fly" list was the sad behavior, of I must stress, only a few VB personal who took great delight at the dying body of AN, in 2001 out at BNE airport. They were and are a disgrace to the airline VB is today. No, I didn't see it first hand but came from a friend that worked for QF. I see no reason to give my travel or business $ to such a person nor company they work for.

VB is a good at keeping the "air fare" as they say. It is good competition for QF that we all must have to keep the best deal for all Australians when flying. VB is a great airline, but sorry, not for my wife and I.

Thanks for answering.

 

[kamchatsky]

Anyway, if SQ can take a stake of DJ it would be fantastic. But I guess that is wishful thinking.

 

[serfty]

Well NZ's share is now just under 20% and they are considering more:

[h=1]Air New Zealand could increase Virgin ownership [/h]

...
AIR New Zealand will consider taking a larger stake in Virgin Australia than its present one fifth ownership under changes which could see the carrier fall into foreign hands. The Kiwi airline’s chairman Rob Fyfe said it had yet to clarify its stance on the changed ownership conditions in the wind for Virgin Australia, which intends to split its domestic and international businesses to get around the airline law which restricts foreign ownership to 49 per cent.
The other potential major player for Virgin is Etihad airlines, with the Middle East carrier’s chief James Hogan keen to expand its reach into the Australian market beyond its formal alliance with Virgin Australia.
...

 

[cove]

Wouldn't that open the run to the US to SQ and/ or Emirates in some form?

 

[Dee Thom]

Wouldn't that open the run to the US to SQ and/ or Emirates in some form?

VA's already doing it for SQ, and to an extent for ETIHAD.

Cheers,
Dee

 

[TimB]

Wouldn't that open the run to the US to SQ and/ or Emirates in some form?

No, I don't think so. I'm not an expert in all this, but my understanding is that Virgin Australia Holdings will split off Virgin Australia International Holdings, which will operate international routes as an Australian-flagged carrier, and be limited to 49% foreign ownership. However, Virgin Australia will then be able to receive additional foreign investment, since there are no disadvantages to a domestic carrier being majority foreign owned (at least from an operational perspective).

 

[oz_mark]

Wouldn't that open the run to the US to SQ and/ or Emirates in some form?

Is SQ still interested? Don't seem to recall hearing that much from them since the competition started up against QF and the prices dropped!

 

[elbarto]

Is SQ still interested? Don't seem to recall hearing that much from them since the competition started up against QF and the prices dropped!

Most likely but their main argument for rights, lack of competition, is no longer valid since there's much more competition now. So SQ will need to come up with a new argument. Maybe they could get the Singapore govt relax their ownership restrictions in return for pacific rights and put Qantas in a real bind about whether or not to oppose it.

 

[drron]

An article in today's SMH has more speculation of what may happen after the financial restructure-
Scramble for Virgin takes off