A key executive has left Australian regional carrier Ansett only a week before its expected new owner, Tesna Holdings, was scheduled to take over from its administrators, Andersen.
Trevor Jensen, named on 22 January as executive general manager operations, resigned with immediate effect two days later to rejoin Qantas as group general manager business performance - operations and infrastructure.
The move puts further pressure on Ansett executives preparing for transition to Tesna's ownership. Tesna has yet to announce several key management appointments and sign off some of its terminal leases, and has not even identified all the aircraft that will make up its new fleet. Meanwhile, the sale plan faces growing hostility from former Ansett employees who, as creditors, may still attempt to block the sale and force a liquidation of all Ansett assets.
The airline went bankrupt last year but has since returned to operation with a limited service while negotiations for a sale to Tesna Holdings have proceeded.
Jensen was one of 16 executives named just nine days before they were due to take up their new roles. Major appointments still unannounced only a week before the expected start-up were heads of commercial, sales and marketing and cabin services, and the key role of airport manager at Sydney.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) said on 24 January that Tesna's air operator certificate application had yet to be finalised: "It's on track at the moment, although it's very tight... it is entirely up to the operator to satisfy the safety authority that the arrangements are in place to keep it all going."
Source: Flight International
