Qantas strikes deal with 10-year-old CEO who ‘thinks big’

The schoolboy who wrote to Qantas CEO Alan Joyce asking for advice has landed a deal with the Flying Kangaroo.

Qantas chief Alan Joyce, right, meets with the ten-year-old CEO of Oceania Express, Alex Jacquot, centre, and his deputy CEO Wolf Stringer.

The Sydney schoolboy who wrote to Qantas chief Alan Joyce asking for advice on starting an airline has scored a lot more than a few words of wisdom.

At a much anticipated meeting yesterday, ten-year-old Alex Jacquot secured an agreement from Mr Joyce for a partnership between Qantas and his fledgling Oceania Express.

Alex was joined by his deputy CEO Wolf Stringer and sister Mila Jacquot, 7, the head of inflight service at the meeting with Mr Joyce and two of his executives.

Speaking after the 30-minute boardroom conference, Mr Joyce said Alex had asked to take him seriously — so he did.

“It’s hard not to be impressed by his enthusiasm,” Mr Joyce said.

“The aviation industry needs people who think big and Alex has that in spades. It was a pleasure meeting with him and his co-founders.”

He said the memorandum of understanding signed by himself and Alex, would become active when the ten-year-old finished school in 2026.

“It might be pushed out a bit if he chooses to go to university, which I hope he does,” said Mr Joyce.

Alex Jacquot, right, and his deputy CEO Wolf Stringer. Picture: Supplied

As part of the agreement, Alex was presented with a new logo, business cards and an artist’s impression of the Oceania Express brand on a Boeing Dreamliner. The domain name oceaniaexpress.com.au was also registered by Qantas on Alex’s behalf.

“This is a big day for our little airline,” Alex declared.

“We’ve got a lot to learn from them but they can learn from us too. We’ve got some ideas about how to make long flights less boring.”

Alex’s letter to Mr Joyce, and the Qantas CEO’s gracious reply went viral, after it was posted on the Facebook page of Alex’s inner Sydney school.

Mr Joyce said since then, Qantas had received scores of notes from other children with a passion for aviation.

Alan Joyce shakes on his deal with Alex Jacquot.

“There are clearly a lot of budding airline executives out there, probably because it’s an industry that really captures the imagination,” he said.

“When we thought about the right way to respond to these letters, we decided to start a program that gives the biggest enthusiasts the chance to come and see behind the scenes at Qantas.”

The Qantas Future High Flyers program will offer a selected number of schoolchildren the chance to spend a day at the Flying Kangaroo in Sydney and meet a variety of employees including pilots, engineers and office staff.

Further details are available at the qantasnewsroom.com.au website.