This Month
Strap in for a bumpy summer as old planes and surging demand collide
The high number of flight delays and cancellations were meant to have been smoothed out by now. But a crunch in the number of planes is dragging it out.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Greg Foran goes hard to reverse Air New Zealand’s nose dive
He’s run Walmart and Woolworths supermarkets. Now the rugby-mad Kiwi plans to end half a decade of poor performance with an unusual move to retrofit old planes.
- Ayesha de Kretser
UBS set to launch $1b-plus Auckland Airport block trade
Fund managers are on high alert for a mega block trade out of Auckland International Airport.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Updated
- Aviation
Union demands CEO veto in exchange for supporting Virgin’s Qatar deal
The powerful Transport Workers Union is concerned that a former Qantas executive involved in the illegal sacking of staff is the frontrunner for the top job.
- Ayesha de Kretser
November
Qatar still pushing for extra flights as ACCC gives interim approval
Giving the Middle Eastern airline extra landing rights would make life even more difficult for Qantas, which faces delays getting new planes and a hefty capex bill.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Webjet misled customers on fares for years, says ACCC
The online travel agency allegedly charged one customer $21,764 more after the booking had been made. Webjet says it is cooperating with the regulator.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Web Travel Group rebounds after result not as bad as feared
An embarrassing accounting hiccup sent Web Travel Group’s shares spiralling, but a $150m buyback has boosted investor spirits.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Overall Winner
- Fast 100
This is the fastest-growing company in Australia
Founded by an ex-banker, this air ambulance start-up has achieved 700 per cent revenue growth thanks to business from the cruise industry.
- Primrose Riordan
SingPost schedules board meeting to anoint FMH winner; eyes on PEP
Sydney private equity firm Pacific Equity Partners is believed to be in pole position; however, the team has not yet secured exclusivity, according to sources with knowledge of the sale.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Amid a glut of EV supply, one car maker decided to become the cheapest
MG, now owned by China’s SAIC Motors, slashed $10,000 from its entry model. The big price reductions are one way manufacturers are keeping sales up.
- Simon Evans
Virgin’s plan to fly Qatar planes poised for ACCC green light
The Bain-backed airline hopes to fly the Gulf carrier’s Boeing 777s to Doha in a return to long-haul international services from the middle of next year.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Prestige new electric vehicles being sold for a loss by dealers
Demand for EVs above $70,000 is stalling, and the government’s tougher emissions standards scheme may worsen an oversupply next year.
- Simon Evans
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Frothy market’s two biggest winners make up for all the year’s losers
On a day when the ASX 200 hits another record high, it’s worth thinking about which stocks are driving it. Two have done this year’s heavy lifting.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Inside Pacific Equity Partners’ old-school private equity play
It’s a classic of the genre: undervalued market leader in a fragmented sector that’s ripe for consolidation and growing with government support.
- James Thomson
Air New Zealand to follow Qantas for premium cabin makeover
The Kiwi carrier will undertake a major overhaul of its fleet to add more premium economy and business class seats.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Bingo investors are still trying to shift debt at a discount
This despite the Macquarie-backed waste management company securing a $100 million debt in September lifeline to meet its payments.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Qantas has splurged $2.2b on its own shares. Why?
It hasn’t paid a dividend for years, instead returning billions to investors via buybacks. But with the stock at an all-time high, should it still be buying?
- Anthony Macdonald
Major train network to grind to a halt in pay stand-off
A train network used daily by more than one million people in Sydney could be out of action for days because of industrial action, throwing the transport system into chaos.
- Luke Costin
- Updated
- Aviation
Etihad rips up Virgin frequent flier partnership after Qatar deal
The Bain Capital-backed airline has told the ACCC that it will retain alliance arrangements with Singapore Airlines despite its new major shareholder.
- Fiona Carruthers and Ayesha de Kretser
- Exclusive
- Commercial real estate
Commonwealth Bank takes control of Jon Adgemis’ yacht
The boat was built in 1974 in Italy and was advertised for sale in 2010 with a price tag of $2.85 million.
- Primrose Riordan and Sarah Thompson
Bus group Kinetic’s PE owners pull brakes on 100pc sale
Despite icing plans for a 100 per cent sale, sources say Kinetic is progressing talks with a handful of interested parties.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood, e and Emma Rapaport
WA black truffles go global as cargo flights become Michelin missions
The delicacies lose 2 per cent to 3 per cent of their weight every day they sit in storage, meaning exporters are beholden to securing reliable deliveries.
- Ayesha de Kretser
- Opinion
- The AFR View
Bailout keeps Rex flying until after election
The $80 million, handed out with little detail, has to go towards making Rex a sustainable player again. The government needs to make a better case for how that will happen.
- The AFR View
- Updated
- Aviation
Labor’s $80m Rex handout angers regional rivals and potential buyers
The government hopes the money will keep the collapsed carrier flying to country towns until next year in the hopes administrators can sell the company.
- Ayesha de Kretser
Qantas claims network advantage will outgun bulked up Qatar
Qantas international boss Cam Wallace says the wet leasing arrangement that facilitates the partnership between Virgin and Qatar cannot be indefinite.
- Ayesha de Kretser and Jenny Wiggins
