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Qantas seeks foreign ownership rule change Qantas seeks foreign ownership rule change
(about 1 hour later)
Australian airline Qantas has backed a suggestion by Treasurer Joe Hockey that rules restricting foreign investment in the carrier should be changed.Australian airline Qantas has backed a suggestion by Treasurer Joe Hockey that rules restricting foreign investment in the carrier should be changed.
Current rules limit total foreign holding of Qantas to 49%, with foreign airlines allowed to own just 35%.Current rules limit total foreign holding of Qantas to 49%, with foreign airlines allowed to own just 35%.
Qantas has claimed the rules have hurt its growth, not least because its arch rival Virgin has benefited from increased foreign investment. Qantas has claimed the rules have hurt its growth, not least because its arch-rival Virgin has benefited from increased foreign investment.
Qantas has struggled recently amid rising competition and slowing demand.Qantas has struggled recently amid rising competition and slowing demand.
"What we have seen in Canberra is the politicians listening to our arguments, the politicians saying there is an unlevel playing field here," said Alan Joyce, chief executive of Qantas."What we have seen in Canberra is the politicians listening to our arguments, the politicians saying there is an unlevel playing field here," said Alan Joyce, chief executive of Qantas.
Shares of Qantas rose as much as 5% in early trading in Sydney as investors hoped a change in rules may help the company.Shares of Qantas rose as much as 5% in early trading in Sydney as investors hoped a change in rules may help the company.
Tough timesTough times
The ownership rules were incorporated in the Qantas Sale Act ahead of the airline's privatisation in the 1990s.The ownership rules were incorporated in the Qantas Sale Act ahead of the airline's privatisation in the 1990s.
However, since then the dynamics of the airline industry have changed significantly.However, since then the dynamics of the airline industry have changed significantly.
Even though Qantas continues to dominate the Australian market, it has struggled in the international market. Its international division has been making a loss for some time, holding back its overall profitability.Even though Qantas continues to dominate the Australian market, it has struggled in the international market. Its international division has been making a loss for some time, holding back its overall profitability.
At the same time, profits at its domestic operations also fell in the financial year to 30 June 2013 - down 21% from a year ago to A$365m ($333m; £205m).At the same time, profits at its domestic operations also fell in the financial year to 30 June 2013 - down 21% from a year ago to A$365m ($333m; £205m).
The airline is facing increased competition, not least from rival Virgin, which has attracted investment from foreign carriers Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.The airline is facing increased competition, not least from rival Virgin, which has attracted investment from foreign carriers Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand.
'Immediate action''Immediate action'
For its part, Qantas has entered into a partnership with Emirates, with the two collaborating on pricing, sales and flight scheduling. The airline has said the partnership has started to help turn around its fortunes.For its part, Qantas has entered into a partnership with Emirates, with the two collaborating on pricing, sales and flight scheduling. The airline has said the partnership has started to help turn around its fortunes.
However, Mr Joyce called upon authorities to take "urgent, immediate action" to change the ownership rules to help it to sustain its growth further. Mr Joyce called upon authorities to take "urgent, immediate action" to help sustain its growth further.
"The issues about the Qantas Sale Act is it's going to need an act of parliament to appeal it and I think in the current parliament getting it through the lower house and the upper house is an issue for us," he said. However, in a note sent to Qantas employees on Thursday, My Joyce said the government needed to do more than just change the Qantas Sale Act.
"This can't take months or years to go through an appeal process in parliament, and that's the big problem that I think we're facing at the moment." He said this was because "we don't think it is realistically achievable" to change the act in the current parliament.
"And the process would be prolonged, during which time Virgin Australia would be free to continue its anti-competitive strategy aimed at crippling Qantas," he added.
"We simply do not have the time."
When contacted by the BBC, a spokesman for Qantas said the airline was discussing various options with the government to "level the playing field".