Qantas, seeking to turn around losses on international flights, is looking at getting separate licences for its international and domestic businesses amid interest from Emirates Airline in an enhanced tie-up between the carriers.
Qantas has a group looking at whether a split licence would be the best way of running the businesses after last week announcing a restructure, chief executive Alan Joyce said on Saturday.
"We're exploring that as we speak," he said.
While Qantas' constitution and a 1992 Australian law cap foreign investment in the carrier at 49 per cent, second-ranked Virgin Australia Holdings recently separated its international and domestic businesses to get around similar rules.
Qantas last week said it would split its businesses into domestic and international units, a move that could lead to Emirates buying a stake in the Sydney-based carrier's domestic service, according to Deutsche Bank.
