Qantas Will Not Oppose Qatar Airways Virgin Australia Deal

Qantas Airways will not oppose Qatar Airways' proposal to take 25% of Virgin Australia, Qantas' chair and CEO said today at the airline’s AGM in Hobart, Tasmania.

"Qantas is not opposed to foreign airlines owning stakes in Australian airlines," Chair John Mullen said at its annual meeting.

But in a qualifying comment he added: "As part of the regulatory examination of the proposed transaction, we would anticipate that the proposed deal will be assessed in the context of Australian jobs and employment, the effectiveness of Australia's air services framework and the appropriateness of wet leasing arrangements."

Virgin Australia has proposed operating flights from Australia to Doha by mid-next year using Qatar Airways aircraft and crew.

It is expected that the “Virgin Australia” service to Doha would operate daily Boeing 777-300ERs from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.