Mergers ‘desirable’ for Qantas, says outgoing CEO

Outgoing Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon has said the airline is “well placed” to ride out the turbulence currently affecting the global aviation industry – and he has called on the carrier to get actively involved in the sector’s inevitable consolidation.

Outgoing Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon has said the airline is “well placed” to ride out the turbulence currently affecting the global aviation industry – and he has called on the carrier to get actively involved in the sector’s inevitable consolidation.

According to news agency AFP, Mr Dixon made his comments at the company’s annual general meeting in Brisbane. He is set to step down today (November 28th) as CEO after eight years in the hotseat.

Prior to his speech at the meeting, he had told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that given the airline’s “current strong situation”, it should become a “major partner” in mergers with rival carriers hit by the downturn in demand.

He added to shareholders that being a player in the airline consolidation was the “next step forward” for Qantas.

Company chairman, Leigh Clifford, commented that “few airlines can be better placed than Qantas to manage through this volatile era”.

Founded in 1920, Qantas now serves 145 destinations in 37 different countries.