NewsBite

Peter Harbison

Yesterday

Qatar Airways’ purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Virgin Australia Airlines from its private equity owners Bain Capital is an important moment for Australian aviation. It’s also a good result for consumers.

Qatar-Virgin takeoff is good news. But it is still an airline duopoly

It’s time to plan for the only long-term hope for new entries and greater competition – the opening of Sydney’s second airport.

February

It’s no surprise that Paul Jones has been sidelined from the race for Virgin Australia’s CEO role.

Unions aren’t the best head-hunters for who runs Virgin

When unions push too hard on leadership decisions, it doesn’t always end well. And perhaps it’s best governments stay out of the selection process too.

October 2024

A successful outcome would set the airline up for an IPO in mid-2025.

Qatar Airways deal can help Virgin escape Qantas’ flying wedge

Allowing an international state-owned carrier to buy a stake in Australia’s second-biggest airline will go a long way to creating a better competitive balance in the domestic aviation market.

August 2024

The only thing that lies between a willing Qatar Airways and a significant minority investment in Virgin Australia is whether Anthony Albanese.

After Rex’s failure, here is the answer to Australia’s airline competition problem

It would be in the national interest –  and Qantas’ –  for the government to create a successful duopoly by biting the bullet on foreign ownership of Virgin.

December 2023

A healthy second airline is essential if the industry is to aspire to be “fit for purpose”, as the ACCC’s chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb puts it.

Crunch question is whether Qantas is too big a national icon to fail?

Is Qantas to be given primacy in Australian aviation or is it really just another privatised airline in a deregulated market?

October 2023

FJoyce has been severely criticised for “trashing the brand”. I’m not going to argue that corner, except to respond to one particular aspect of concerns - cost-cutting, and staff reductions.

Joyce’s Qantas never had the luxury of going bankrupt

When judging the performance of the former CEO, some very important factors are being buried in the current firestorm.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/peter-harbison-p5372w