Qantas is believed to be considering re-routing flights between the UK and Australia via the Middle East as part of a new deal with Dubai-based Emirates.
The move could signal an end to the long-standing partnership between the Australian carrier and British Airways and the Oneworld alliance, which it co-founded with BA 14 years ago.
According to a report in The Australian, it is thought Qantas is considering a tie-up with Emirates which would see it route flights via the Middle Eastern carrier’s Dubai hub instead of Singapore.
Qantas – which expects profits this year to fall by as much as 90% – has suffered from competition on main routes between Europe and Australia and by Virgin Australia’s alliance with Abu Dhabi-based Etihad.
By Linsey McNeill
