With Qanta's equity stake, Pacific Airlines may fly to India too

Qantas could offer travellers new routes to Europe through Abu Dhabi as it considers an equity stake in Vietnam's tiny Pacific Airlines, the region's leading airline think-tank says.
The Flying Kangaroo is focused on expanding its regional exposure with a 30 per cent equity stake in Pacific Airlines, which is relaunching itself as a low-cost airline with fares as low as $1.
The airline is majority owned by the Ministry of Finance, which wants to sell 30 per cent to a foreign airline. Pacific Airlines was positioned as a "value airline" with fares 25 per cent below Vietnam Airlines but the success of airlines like Air Asia has led to a rethink on its market position. Plans call for the fleet to be built up from its existing two aircraft - a 170-seat 737 and an A320 - and to acquire Boeing 787s, which Qantas has ordered.
Currently, the airline operates domestic flights between Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi Danang and between Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei and Kaohsiung in Taiwan.
In the longer term, the airline expects to operate to Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macao and India.
26/01/07 Geoffrey Thomas/The Australian, Australia

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