Agence France Presse October 7, 2001 SINGAPORE SINGAPORE Airlines (SIA) management have met with the administrators of Ansett to discuss SIA's possible involvement in reviving the floundering Australian carrier, a joint statement said. The statement, issued late October 6 after the meeting in Singapore, said both parties "had a useful exchange in views and agreed to continue these discussions on the basis that SIA may be engaged... as a consultant to develop a business plan" for a revived Ansett. "SIA would also have the opportunity to provide management and to take up equity at a future date at its option," it said. Mark Mentha, one of the administrators, said they were "keen for SIA to play a significant role" in a resurrected airline called Ansett Mark II. SIA chief executive Cheong Choong Kong said that "while SIA was keen to explore the possibilities offered by this opportunity, there were many issues to resolve before any commitment could be made," according to the statement. Ansett was grounded last month beneath crushing debts after being placed in voluntary administration by Air New Zealand, its former parent firm struggling with its own troubles. However, some Ansett aircraft have since returned to Australian
skies under the banner of "Ansett Mark II". |
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