AUSTRALIA: Possibility Coalition could Facilitate Australia Foreign Investment in National Airline

Monday June 25 2012

It has been reported that a Coalition government in Australia would consider allowing Qantas to be majority foreign-owned to enable it to compete with its rivals on a more level playing field.

Qantas is stopped from being majority-owned by foreigners as part of the legalisation introduced when the airline was privatised in the 1990s.

Under the Qantas Sale Act, Australia foreign investment in the airline is capped at 49 per cent, total ownership by foreign airlines is limited to 35 per cent and a single foreign investor can buy no more than 25 per cent.

According to reports, a decision has to be made about Qantas becomes a major international airline with a majority ownership overseas, or whether to retain as a purely Australian icon.

This information will be updated as more details become available