Qantas Airways Limited
(ASX:QAN) plans to expand into Asia may be delayed until 2013.
The AFR says the airline is still in talks with potential partners in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and that while a decision on where the new airline will be based is expected before the end of the year, it could take another year before the venture receives all the approvals it needs to operate.
Qantas said it wanted to create a joint venture Asian airline with a group majority owned by firms based in either Singapore or Malaysia.
Last week it reported a passenger increase for July of 6.2 per cent.
Qantas more than doubled its profit in the 2011 financial year, coming in at $249 million.
