Asian and Oceania carriers up to something?
Report from the Star :
MAS pursues strategic partnerships with several airlines
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines is pursuing strategic partnerships with a number of airlines but did not give a hint if a merger with Qantas is a possibility.
We are in talks with a number of airlines on collaboration and creating synergies for growth. This ranges from joint ventures and code shares to interlining partnerships, its managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Idris Jala said in a statement yesterday.
He added that for example, we have signed a memorandum of understanding with Qantas on joint venture on maintenance repair and overhaul.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that MAS and Qantas had held merger discussions earlier this year but talks were suspended because the parties could not agree on merger ratio and governance issues.
The newspaper also said Qantas had confirmed it was currently in merger talks with British Airways and had committed itself to forging a tie-up with a foreign carrier even if its planned merger with British Airways failed.