Capt Kremin
9th Jul 2007, 00:09
"We have no plans....." Geoffrey Dixon
QANTAS has flagged the possibility of establishing long-haul operations through its two Asian budget franchises, Singapore's Jetstar Asia and Vietnam's Pacific Airlines, to complement the already aggressive international expansion of its Australian operation Jetstar.
The carrier's ambitious plans for Jetstar were illustrated again at the weekend when Qantas became the biggest customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
On the eve of Boeing's first showing of a fully assembled 787 in Seattle, at a ceremony to be held this morning Australian time, Qantas increased its order from 45 to 65 Dreamliners and hinted that the bulk of the aeroplanes could end up in the Jetstar fleet.
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the Dreamliner's better fuel efficiency would allow Qantas and Jetstar to "expand more rapidly, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, the world's fastest growing aviation region".
The first 15 Dreamliners (the 787-800 model) that Qantas will receive from mid-2008 will go into the Jetstar fleet. It is yet to decide where it will deploy the longer-range 787-900s that it will take delivery of from 2010.
Qantas also urged Boeing to expedite development of a stretched version of the jet, the 787-10.
Asked where Jetstar could expand its services with the new aircraft, Mr Dixon said: "I think there's a chance of Jetstar going anywhere. You have a carrier that has absolutely established itself well in its cost base and the way it operates."
He rejected speculation that Qantas could eventually lease aircraft from Jetstar to cut costs and sidestep labour agreements with higher paid Qantas crews.
"We have no plans at all to put aircraft into Jetstar and to wet-lease to Qantas. They will either go to Jetstar or go into Qantas," Mr Dixon said.
Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg said Jetstar Asia and Pacific Airlines could possibly take the Airbus A330-200s in Jetstar's fleet that will be eventually replaced by 787s.
"The options for us to put wide bodies into those vehicles are growing by the day," Mr Gregg said. Such a move could be seen as an attempt to ward off the growing threat by low-cost Asian airlines, such as Malaysia's AirAsia, that are looking to launch long-haul services to Australia.
Qantas's massive gamble on ordering Dreamliners and Airbus A380 superjumbos, of which it is the second largest buyer, appears to have paid off. Airlines now wanting to buy Dreamliners will not be able to take delivery until 2013 because of high demand.
"One of the great advantages, and one of the positions that Qantas has established for itself, is this order we have for the 787," Mr Dixon said. "You really can't get into this game at the moment."
Mr Gregg and Mr Dixon also signalled Qantas's recent aircraft buying binge could continue, with the airline now looking to replace its ageing fleet of 747-400 jumbo jets and even consider a short-haul jet that could be used for its entire Qantas and Jetstar fleet.
and BTW F.O.G
QANTAS has flagged the possibility of establishing long-haul operations through its two Asian budget franchises, Singapore's Jetstar Asia and Vietnam's Pacific Airlines, to complement the already aggressive international expansion of its Australian operation Jetstar.
The carrier's ambitious plans for Jetstar were illustrated again at the weekend when Qantas became the biggest customer for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
On the eve of Boeing's first showing of a fully assembled 787 in Seattle, at a ceremony to be held this morning Australian time, Qantas increased its order from 45 to 65 Dreamliners and hinted that the bulk of the aeroplanes could end up in the Jetstar fleet.
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said the Dreamliner's better fuel efficiency would allow Qantas and Jetstar to "expand more rapidly, particularly in the Asia-Pacific, the world's fastest growing aviation region".
The first 15 Dreamliners (the 787-800 model) that Qantas will receive from mid-2008 will go into the Jetstar fleet. It is yet to decide where it will deploy the longer-range 787-900s that it will take delivery of from 2010.
Qantas also urged Boeing to expedite development of a stretched version of the jet, the 787-10.
Asked where Jetstar could expand its services with the new aircraft, Mr Dixon said: "I think there's a chance of Jetstar going anywhere. You have a carrier that has absolutely established itself well in its cost base and the way it operates."
He rejected speculation that Qantas could eventually lease aircraft from Jetstar to cut costs and sidestep labour agreements with higher paid Qantas crews.
"We have no plans at all to put aircraft into Jetstar and to wet-lease to Qantas. They will either go to Jetstar or go into Qantas," Mr Dixon said.
Qantas chief financial officer Peter Gregg said Jetstar Asia and Pacific Airlines could possibly take the Airbus A330-200s in Jetstar's fleet that will be eventually replaced by 787s.
"The options for us to put wide bodies into those vehicles are growing by the day," Mr Gregg said. Such a move could be seen as an attempt to ward off the growing threat by low-cost Asian airlines, such as Malaysia's AirAsia, that are looking to launch long-haul services to Australia.
Qantas's massive gamble on ordering Dreamliners and Airbus A380 superjumbos, of which it is the second largest buyer, appears to have paid off. Airlines now wanting to buy Dreamliners will not be able to take delivery until 2013 because of high demand.
"One of the great advantages, and one of the positions that Qantas has established for itself, is this order we have for the 787," Mr Dixon said. "You really can't get into this game at the moment."
Mr Gregg and Mr Dixon also signalled Qantas's recent aircraft buying binge could continue, with the airline now looking to replace its ageing fleet of 747-400 jumbo jets and even consider a short-haul jet that could be used for its entire Qantas and Jetstar fleet.
and BTW F.O.G