Qantas Open To Merger Opportunities In Asia

February 3, 2009

"We have plans, if things improve, to grow in the market again, but we also have plans, if things get worse, to take further action if need be," -- Qantas CEO Alan Joyce.

Qantas' chief executive Alan Joyce said on Tuesday the airline was open to merger opportunities in Asia, but was not in any active talks.

"We are always looking at opportunities in Asia and the region," Joyce said at a meeting of the oneworld airline alliance in Madrid.

"We are not actively involved in dialogue with anybody at this stage," he said.

In December, Qantas and British Airways called off talks for a USD$6.4 billion merger after failing to agree terms as the sector grapples with falling demand and volatile fuel prices.

Joyce said the Australian carrier had not seen any further fall in long-haul demand since the sharp drop it registered last September and October.

"We saw the international business for Qantas take a hit because of a fall in premium traffic," Joyce said. "Since then we haven't seen any further deterioration, but we keep monitoring the volatile environment."

"We have plans, if things improve, to grow in the market again, but we also have plans, if things get worse, to take further action if need be," he added.