Qantas may reduce Jetstar stake in restructuring plans

Singapore

QANTAS is considering all options as part of its restructuring review to unlock capital - including a sell-down of its stake in Jetstar Asia - even as three Australian senators called for the resignation of Qantas chief Alan Joyce and the entire Qantas board.

In response to queries from BT yesterday, a Qantas spokesman said: "All options are on the table as part of this review." The airline is due to deliver an update on its structural review in February.

One analyst, who declined to be named, reckons that buyers that might be keen on considering Qantas's stake in Jetstar Asia include low-cost carriers Tigerair, Lion Air and Air Asia.

"Lion Air has regional ambitions," he pointed out.

However, another analyst wasn't entirely convinced that Jetstar Asia would be made the sacrificial lamb, instead seeing the announcement as posturing to pressure the Australian government - or Qantas's cash-rich partner, Emirates - to come to the rescue…