Jetstar has dismissed reports that it is planning to move its headquarters to Hong Kong.
The carrier issued a statement after media reports in Hong Kong and Australia said the carrier was considering shifting several of its senior managers, including CEO Bruce Buchanan, to Hong Kong to more effectively tap into the China market.
"This information is simply wrong," Buchanan said in a note to his staff.
"Jetstar's global headquarters is in Melbourne and there are absolutely no plans to change this. We will continue to build capability in Asia as our operations develop, but there's no intention to reduce the size of our head office in Melbourne," Buchanan added.
In addition, a Jetstar spokeswoman said the airline could "neither confirm or deny" reports that said it was seeking partners to start a budget airline in Hong Kong and applying for a Hong Kong air operator's certificate.
Meanwhile, Jetstar parent firm Qantas said on Tuesday it will work with Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi to launch a low-cost carrier in Japan in late 2012.
The new carrier will be called Jetstar Japan and initially operate three Airbus A320 aircraft, which will grow to 24 "within a few years".
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
