Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce has called for the airline to be given “a fair go”.
Writing in The Australian Joyce stated that Qantas is not seeking a government bailout, declaring that “Qantas is not Holden”, and said the challenges the airline faces stem from the absence of free market conditions.
“Virgin Australia’s 2012 restructure has enabled it to circumvent Australian law and pretend to be an Australian airline when it is majority-owned by three foreign government-backed airlines,” Joyce writes. “Through Virgin, they are pouring money into our domestic market to weaken Qantas and ultimately funnel Australian traffic on their airlines and through their hubs.”
Qantas is in discussions with the federal government seeking a level playing field, Joyce stated.
“We are talking to the Abbott government because legislation and regulatory decisions (the Qantas Sale Act, the Air Navigation Act, and decisions by the Foreign Investment Review Board) have created the uneven playing field we find ourselves playing on. We are seeking a fair go as we continue to transform our business and make the tough decisions.”
