BA sniffs Qantas

BRITISH AIRWAYS will decide this week whether to make a bid for a stake in Qantas, the Australian airline. The Australian government, which is selling 49 per cent of the airline, has set a deadline for bids of this Wednesday. The BA board discussed the matter on Friday and will make a final decision in the next two days. If it goes ahead, BA will either form a consortium or buy 25 per cent on its own.