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Opposition politicians urge break up of Qantas Airways and Jetstar; government dismisses it “as a thought bubble”
September 10th 2024
Australia’s federal shadow transport minister, Bridget McKenzie, in an opinion piece in the Australian Financial Review, has called on the government to force Qantas Airways to sell off its 100%-owned subsidiary, Jetstar. Read More » McKenzie quoted a recently published government Treasury report into aviation competition that said “Qantas raises prices when Jetstar, an affiliated airline, enters the market, suggesting the presence of Jetstar allows Qantas to exercise a greater degree of price discrimination”. However the leader of the opposition’s coalition partner, David Littleproud, said the coalition aims to ensure cheaper air fares by a careful examination of competition policy. He argued for a calm and methodical approach and emphasised no concrete steps had been taken to initiate a break-up of two airlines. Transport minister, Catherine King, dismissed McKenzie’s proposal as a “thought bubble”.
