With BA selling its stake in Qantas, there's a reasonable chance that SQ could step in to buy its share. (Qantas' CEO is a big fan of SQ.)

This article hints that without BA keeping them in, Qantas might not necessarily stick with Oneworld.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...530696122.html

It would be excellent if Qantas would come into the *A fold. Since Ansett folded, there's been a big hole in their coverage down here in Oz.

I would think it is more likely that Singapore Airlines would use any stake in Qantas to try and get membership to Oneworld.

I disagree...I think SQ would not want to be in the same alliance as CX...(sort of like having Coke and Pepsi cooperating....wont happen)

it would be great to have Qantas join *A (and CX too but just a dream...)

SQ does not like TG in * too.

I, for one, wouldn't much care if SQ left *A. I rarely fly them because they have all these silly rules about cheaper tickets not qualifying for mileage or not qualifying for status. It's next to impossible to redeem an award on SQ (and that's when I am *A Gold.... I can only imagine what it's like trying to redeem an award on SQ if you are *A Silver or less).
Good riddance. I hope and pray that CX and SQ would switch their alliances.

PS: TG is good. No chip on their shoulder. Awards are easy to get and all flights qualify for mileage. ^

It wouldn't surprise me if SQ starts its own alliance down the road, when its *A agreement expires.

SQ has 49% in Virgin in the UK, and can establish agreement with Virgin Express

SQ has a very small (less than 5%?) in NZ, and if they buy into Qantas, all three can establish a regional alliance

SQ has also shown interest in investing a minority stake in one of the three main Chinese airlines, so it could establish an agreement in East Asia

With Virgin America on the horizon, and possibly investing 10% in one of the US majors (post Ch 11 at a huge discount price), this could lead into North America tie up.

My own speculation:

SQ Alliance ( after *A agreement expires):

SQ- South and South East Asia
One of the Chinese Airlines - North and East Asia
Qantas and NZ - Australia and South Pacific
North America - Virgin America plus one of the majors (with a small investment)
Europe - Virgin, Virgin Express, and perhaps tie up with another European based carrier.

Of course, SQ have an extensive worldwide network reaching all continents to tie all the partners/investees together as it has no domesitc operation to focus on.

nowhereman, u took the thoughts out of my head! I like SQ business class and definitely first class, but I also really really like CX premium classes and their home lounges in HK (Pier and Wing)....it might be nice if they switched alliances, but probably only a dream

I personally like TG and will love them when they upgrade planes/seats

Star would be interested in Qantas.

But I guess SIA/Qantas will be forced to drop some of the slots to other airlines in order for the alliance to go ahead.

Exactly what I was thinking!

Of course, your speculation is more elaborate than what I had come up with.

I wonder what NZ would say about this?? They would gain a ton of competiton for *A feeder traffic on the Trans Pac routes via AKL because the only *A bet now is UA.

DF

Temasek, Singapore Government's commercial arm, was rumoured as the buyer of Qantas share offered by BA.

Temasek owns 57% share of SIA.

Forgive me but that's nonsense. CX and SQ are cooperating very closely. SQ is even an investor in CXs maintenance facilities. CX has bought many planes from SQ, and they assign each other's overbooked passengers on almost all major routes. I don't know whey the general uninformed public always perceives them as fierce competitors. They have a very healthy, cooperative competition going on. Always had. (They certainly compete less with each other than say TG and SQ. )

I agree they always have a good professional working relationship as competitors. Some of their routes are overlapped, thus they need each other when flights are cancelled and oversold. This is similar to the UA and NW relationship over the Pacifics.

However, being in the same alliance is a different story, because each would want to be the cornerstone airline in its region for the alliance unless the geographical coverage can justify having multiple airlines.

These are two of the outstanding airlines that set the standard for business travel. It is good having them competing and working with each other in order to push them for better product and services. Competition can be a good way to motivate.

Some things to think about:

1. SQ would probably never join oneworld or SkyTeam, as both alliances emphasize corporate synergies in addition to joint marketing/FFP tie-ups.

2. At the time of joining *A, SQ only saw it as a temporary measure until it could set up a global alliance of its own.

3. SQ and QF could beneficially cooperate in many ways outside of codesharing or FFP tie-ins, e.g., maintenance, ground handling, etc.

Nowhereman, I agree with your criticisms of SQ (though as a UA 1K I've had some success redeeming SQ awards), but nevertheless fervently hope that SQ stays in the *A. I guess a big part of my hope comes from the routes and class of service (C) that I generally fly on SQ, but IMHO the quality of service, IFE, phone reservation personnel, etc. make it the best airline in the *A and the world. Great and frequent connections to most Asian destinations I go to (such as Indonesia, which admittedly is not on the top of everyone's list). Plus sometimes it has great C fares for some of those destiniations (especially if flying an exclusively SQ itinerary).

So while there is much to criticize at SQ, its leaving the *A would make OneWorld a much more competitive option for folks like me who travel to Asia for business.