Virgin-Etihad
Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. (VAH) has increased competition for Qantas on Europe routes through a tie-up with part-owner Etihad Airways PJSC. The deal lets Virgin sell tickets to about 30 European destinations, with only one stop in Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s neighboring emirate.
Qantas could potentially add more than 40 one-stop destinations through an Emirates deal, based on route maps on the airlines’ websites. British Airways is the carrier’s main European partner at present.
The airline could also save as much as A$600 million of capital spending over the next five to six years by dropping the Frankfurt route and tying up with Emirates, Russell Shaw, an analyst at Macquarie Group Ltd. in Sydney, said by phone. The main saving would be avoiding the need to replace three Boeing Co. 747 aircraft, he said.
“There’s also an opportunity for Qantas to win a little bit of market share back,” he said.
Doesn't look like the Domestic bit has much to do with this deal. Looks more like downsizing the International Fleet/Flying. Not good for pilot careers in Australia.
I wish someone who knows about growing business, rather than cost cutting was allowed some time at the helm of QF.
I hope this turns out to be only a rumour.
The Don