Sorry to be off the original thread, but....
SQ could NOT buy the 50% of AN because of a clause in company ownership laws here in NZ. The law prevented it, not Air NZ (who actually WANTED it to happen, as it kept the Star Alliance alive in Oz)
Scud Driver hit the nail on the head - Ansett was already *****t before SQ or ANZ came near it - a clapped out fleet, with no commonality - was it 23 types in the fleet? 23 types = 23 type ratings, 23 different servicing regimen, 23 sets of tooling, etc.....
Still can't believe the FO pay is so low at Freedom though!