RichardMEL

Fox, Lew announce interest in Ansett

Friday 19 October 2001

The Lindsay Fox-Solomon Lew consortium revealed its plans for Ansett today involving the purchase of 29 brand new airbuses.

Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox and businessman Solomon Lew said an in-principle agreement had been made to purchase the airbuses and a decision and bid was expected to be made within two weeks.

Mr Fox was reluctant to reveal details of the business plan in progress but said it included 4,000 staff, flights to every capital city and some leisure destinations, business and economy classes, Star Alliance links and lounge and loyalty programs.

"We believe our consortium offers the only real opportunity for administrators to realise the Ansett solution," Mr Fox told reporters.

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson attended today's announcement at Mr Fox's Avalon airport, west of Melbourne along with opposition transport spokesman Martin Ferguson, Victorian premier Steve Bracks, Victorian treasurer John Brumby and ACTU assistant secretary Bill Mansfield.

Mr Fox said the syndicate had been looking at the Ansett proposal for four weeks and was in advance discussions with unions, federal and state governments and the administrators.

An in-principle agreement to purchase 29 airbuses had been reached at a cost of $2.5 billion.



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RichardMEL, UA 1K
A Star Alliance Member.