International Airlines Group boss Willie Walsh had told Travel Today that a further deepening of the relationship between British Airways and Qantas is “unlikely”.
The two airlines consolidated their services on the Kangaroo Route last month, but will not be moving beyond the current joint services agreement, he insisted.
Discussions over a potential merger have been held previously but both parties came to the conclusion it “didn’t make sense,” Walsh said.
Meanwhile, he said he was disappointed with the way the European Union had handled the emissions trading issue but remained hopeful it would see sense. Failure to do so would lead to “inevitable retaliation”, he warned.
Airlines around the world have attacked the trading scheme which forces carriers flying to and from EU airports to offset their carbon emissions using the EU’s controversial Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
“I hoping common sense will prevail. Nobody wants a trade war which is a real risk if they don’t stand back.”
Walsh stressed he supported the principle but believed a global approach was vital.
Walsh’s concerns about the UK’s Airport Departure Tax were less subdued, describing the levy as “complete madness” which threatened to damage the UK’s economy.
He pledged to “continue shouting about it,” until it was rectified.
