How many $M was Margaret going to make from the deal? And Dixon too. I remember the hugging and kissy-kissy when they thought the deal had gone through, only to be stymied at the last moment.
Of course she was right!
If that deal had gone though, imho, the result would have been asset stripping on a grand scale and no QF within 6 months. Would probably not have survived the GFC, if it had survived until then.
That consortium was not interested in buying an airline, purely an asset. At least QF has lasted until now, even very badly managed.