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QANTAS is expected to axe its troubled offshoot, Australian Airlines, and hand the routes to Melbourne-based Jetstar.Australian flies to destinations including Bali, Singapore, Hong Kong, Nagoya and Sapporo.
Its end was widely tipped after Qantas confirmed Jetstar, its successful low-cost venture, would start flying internationally from November.
Jetstar International will initially fly to the Asia-Pacific region and later to the US and Europe.
Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon and Jetstar CEO Alan Joyce are expected to announce the end of Australian Airlines this morning.
Mr Dixon foreshadowed the move in February when he revealed the Flying Kangaroo would go under two major brands: Qantas and Jetstar.
Australian, which suffered a $6.9 million half-year loss, had been hit hard by last October's Bali bombings and poor sales in Japan, he said.
Details of any job losses are expected to be announced today.
Jetstar spokesman Simon Westaway declined to comment on Australian's future, but said Jetstar would announce the first part of its international route network today.
Details of fares would be revealed in June, he said.
Melbourne Herald Sun
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