Qantas gets out its trousseau again

[oz_mark]

Qantas gets out its trousseau again | smh.com.au

QANTAS is willing to entertain merger talks with another airline and join the wave of consolidation gripping the US and European aviation sectors.

Almost a year after the failed takeover attempt by a Macquarie Bank-led consortium, Qantas's chief financial officer, Peter Gregg, said the company was open to merger talks.

"We keep saying we are interested and will keep looking. The rest of the world will keep consolidating because the industry needs to rationalise," he told the Herald yesterday.

 

[simongr]

I can't see a natural merger partner for Qf - especially a US carrier. Sure AA has some premium international routes but domestically QF would have to launch JQUSA to be able to compete.

 

[dajop]

I can't see a natural merger partner for Qf -

Wouldn't call it a "natural" merger partner ... but the obvious :idea: merger partner (putting ACCC aside) would be Virgin Blue ... Toll is after all looking for a buyer. Not going to happen though. ... .... ... It better not.

 

[SeaWolf]

How about Air New Zealand? It's been a while since we've had an interesting corporate collapse!

 

[maninblack]

How about Air New Zealand? It's been a while since we've had an interesting corporate collapse!

The New Zealand government owns 76% of Air New Zealand so I doubt it is going anywhere. With the backing of the government coffers NZ has strengthened greatly and it would be a political suicide for any NZ government to sell it off now. It is what one might call a huge political football (or is that a Rugby ball?) They might buy QF though, then dual list the new entity on the ASX and NZSE That would be interesting.

Heading off on SQ tomorrow trying those new Biz seats, should be interesting.