BA sale lets Qantas fly to China

Qantas Airways will probably begin flying to Beijing within a year as part of its expansion into Asia, the Australian flag-carrier’s chief executive, Geoff Dixon, said today.

When British Airways sold its 18.25% stake in Qantas last week, Dixon said Qantas would be free to expand its Asia-Pacific presence, and to take part in any future consolidation among the region’s airlines.