Emirates-Qantas Partnership Looms

International airline Emirates has dropped hints that it may be about to reach an agreement with Australian airline Qantas. The code-share partnership is a move to help Qantas beef up its languishing international operations.

According to Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, the company has been in talks with Qantas for quite some time. Ahmen bin Saeed al-Maktoum is chairman of Emirates.

He explained that the goal of the agreement to see that Qantas fly through Dubai. He, however, clarified that the two companies have yet to discuss revenue-sharing.

After months of speculation over the rumored deal, it was only last week that Qantas confirmed discussions with several airlines, which include Emirates. Qantas, however, declined to explain what kind of partnership it would be.

Qantas executives have also been reported to have flown to Dubai regularly in the last six months, which industry observers presume to be discussions on the partnership.

The Australian airline hopes that the agreement would boost its overseas operations as it can have access to Emirates’ flight networks. It would also widen Qantas’ one-stop services for Australia-Europe routes.

In return, Emirates would gain greater access to the country’s sales network.

Qantas has been struggling for quite some time now to beef up its international operations while trying to keep competition at bay.

Its fiercest competition, Virgin Australia, has been waging a war against Qantas. Virgin also forged a partnership with Etihad Airways to get approval to sell one-stop tickets to Europe via Abu Dhabi. Etihad Airways is part-owner of Virgin Australia.

On Aug. 23, Qantas would report its earnings. Initially, the airline has forecast a $450 million loss for its international routes.