Australian airline Qantas said Sunday that China and India are key to its plans to expand in Asia, with flights to Beijing likely to start within a year.
The announcement by Qantas Airways Ltd comes just days after major shareholder British Airways sold its 18.25 percent stake in the Australian flag carrier for about 1.1 billion dollars (766 million US).
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said he hoped to become well established in China well in time for the anticipated boom ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"I would hope that we would be going back into Beijing within around about 12 months because as things start to develop before the Olympics, so we must, if we're going to be successful, be successful in China," Dixon told television station the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
"I also believe that's the same for India," he added.
Qantas was in a stronger position now than in the past to make a success of the Chinese market, Dixon said, citing its Airbus A-330 and A-300 aircraft as well suited to the market. They would be used on routes to Shanghai and would feature beds, he said. The airline has just re-started direct services to India's financial capital Mumbai after a two-year absence.
Dixon added its low-cost Jetstar model, a low-cost domestic airline recently set up to compete with low-cost rival Virgin Blue, would be a key part of its Asian strategy. The launch is planned later this year of Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, in which Qantas is a 49.9 percent shareholder.
"Obviously, you have to earn your stripes in a pretty tough market. But I think we're confident that Qantas knows how to run a low-cost operation", Dixon said.
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