NO APPLICATION FROM QANTAS TO ESTABLISH NEW AIRLINE

By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR, May 13 (Bernama) -- Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha said Australian national carrier Qantas has not applied for an air operator's certificate to set up a premium airline in Malaysia.

"We have not received any application. I don't know whether they will do so in the future but at the moment, we've not received any such application," he told Bernama here Friday.

The Sydney Morning Herald Friday reported that Qantas was looking at setting up a premium airline in Malaysia and cited speculative reports that the airline had applied for an air operator’s certificate in Malaysia.

However, in a separate report, the Australian Financial Review said Qantas was looking at establishing a full-service subsidiary in Singapore where up to 20 aircraft could be based.

The newspaper said Qantas may use the Singapore unit to build up its network in Europe, the report said.

Qantas has denied it had applied for an air operator’s certificate in Malaysia but said a range of options was on the table to try and recover its dwindling international market share.

"A project team has been established to look at Qantas’ international product and service, possible new routes and ways to reinvigorate our offering," an airline spokesman said Friday.