Calls for amendments to the Qantas act

[elbarto]

http://www.smh.com.au/business/qantas-needs-a-marriage-made-in-canberra-20120118-1q6gu.html

Ok, so more the opinion of one commentator, but should the Qantas act be amended to allow greater foreign ownership?
I can't see it happening as on a global basis airlines have become pawns in political games. China blocking hong kong airlines purchase of A380s is just one recent example.

The other issues is, only qf is protected and all other airlines in Australia can be wholly foreign owned.


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[oz_mark]

Ok, so more the opinion of one commentator, but should the Qantas act be amended to allow greater foreign ownership?
I can't see it happening as on a global basis airlines have become pawns in political games. China blocking hong kong airlines purchase of A380s is just one recent example.

The other issues is, only qf is protected and all other airlines in Australia can be wholly foreign owned.

Foreign investment in any Australian based international airline can not exceed 49%. This is not specifically a QF limitation.

(After reading the article, it is hard to work out what it is actually arguing!)

 

[elbarto]

I stand corrected about ownership after looking at the air navigation act. That'll reach me for listening to that guy at the pub.
But yeaah the article seems to go off on a tangent about corporate governance and greater disclosure.


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[SeaWolf]

I can't see it happening as on a global basis airlines have become pawns in political games.

I don't think they've become pawns in political games. They've always been largely political things. The airline industry is still dominated by 'flag carrier' airlines that were originally set up and owned by government and often still are, either partially or wholly. A lot of national pride often is attached to these supposedly 'iconic' brands, and while there was talk of QF being bought by private equity a few years back polls consistently showed people's major objection was they felt QF should remain owned by the Australian government, even though it hadn't been for more than a decade. Also, take Air France/KLM. In a normal corporate merger you'd have one surviving brand, but due to political and nationalistic sentiments, they continue to operate as two brands.

Who was it that said, "You need two things to be a country, a currency and an airline".

 

[moa999]

Foreign ownership of an Australian International airline is 49%. QF has a few other restrictions. NZ airlines are exceptions due to Single Aviation Market
Foreign ownership of an Australian Domestic airline can be 100% (eg Tiger Australia)