Ansett Australia is upgrading its fleet to include Boeing 747-400s as it prepares for its entry on 28 March into the Star Alliance.
In a surprise move, Australia's second carrier says it will lease two 747-400s for five years from new partner Singapore Airlines (SIA), when leases on two existing 747-300s, also from SIA, expire later this year. Ansett's only international flights are currently within Asia.
Despite the regional economic downturn, which has hit Ansett hard, many predict that the Australian carrier will launch its first services outside the region. Los Angeles is tipped as the favourite because of the expected influx of US passengers visiting the Olympic Games in Sydney next year. Ansett, the official carrier of the games, declines to comment.
Whatever its longer-term plans, Ansett's immediate aim is to start benefiting from membership of the Star Alliance - a key part of its restructuring. Ansett is joining Star at the end of March, at the same time as its 50% owner, Air New Zealand.
In a related move, Ansett is seeking government approval for a new codesharing partnership with Japan's All Nippon Airways (ANA).
The agreement is to take effect from 28 March, when ANA will drop its Osaka-Sydney services and add its code to each of Ansett's daily services, from Sydney northbound and to Sydney, via Brisbane, southbound. ANA is to join Star in October.
Source: Airline Business
