The Qantas board has given the go-ahead for the Australian carrier to launch its own low-cost operation to challenge fast-growing Virgin Blue. The carrier will have its own brand and be a separate company. Alan Joyce, a former Aer Lingus executive who helped formulate the Irish carrier's low-fare strategy and who ran the study into whether Qantas should set up a low-cost airline, has been named executive general manager of the carrier. The aim is for the airline to start in May and have a fleet of at least 23 Airbus A320s or Boeing 737-800s by mid-2005.
Source: Airline Business
