AAP
Cut-price Qantas to base in Melbourne
November 26, 2003 - 12:05PM
Qantas will base its new cut-price airline in Melbourne, Victorian Premier Steve Bracks says.
Mr Bracks said the airline would create 1,000 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs and would be based at Melbourne Airport's former Ansett terminal.
He said the government had fought off competition from other states to secure the airline's headquarters in Melbourne.
"We have been fighting for this one and we have won," Mr Bracks said.
"That's fantastic from my point of view when we had to support, obviously with the head office of Ansett going, to have the head office of the new airline based here in Melbourne.
"It will be great for the economy and for tourism."
Mr Bracks and Qantas chairman Margaret Jackson are due to officially announce the new airline about 1215 (AEDT).
Mr Bracks said he did not know whether the announcement would affect plans by Formula One team owner Paul Stoddart to establish another cut-price airline in Melbourne.
"Paul obviously needs to look at the viability of the financial arrangements," he said.
"I have talked to him, my department is working with them, my understanding is that there's a good chance it will come to Melbourne, if it occurs.
"I don't know really what this decision of Qantas will mean for Paul Stoddart ... I guess that's really a commercial matter for him to work out."
©2003 AAP
===========================================