Qantas likely to hike ticket rates

MELBOURNE: Qantas Airways Ltd, Australia's largest airline, said it may raise fares this year as a global economic rebound revives air-travel demand.

"We are seeing some pricing power return to the market," Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce, 43, said yesterday in a Bloomberg Television interview in Singapore, ahead of this week's air show. "In the domestic market in particular we saw air fares increase before Christmas and we are hoping that will occur pretty soon with some of the international markets."

The Australian carrier raised ticket prices as much as 5 percent in December, its first network-wide increase in almost 18 months, after offering discounts and promotions to spur travel during the global recession. Other carriers are also seeing demand recover as companies ease travel restrictions and consumers' fears about job losses abate.