Qantas set to decide Singapore or Kuala Lumpur for 'Qantasia' hub

Qantas will soon make the call on if Singapore or Kuala Lumpur will be the home of its new 'premium' Asian airline, which industry wags have dubbed 'Qantasia' but is likely to be branded as RedQ or OneAsia.

According to today's Sydney Morning Herald, Qantas CEO Alan Joyce confirmed the airline is "just weeks away" from choosing where to hang its shiny new shingle.

Singapore is of course Qantas' traditional Asian base, from which it flies to Europe and which is in line for a new Marc Newson-designed Qantas First Lounge to replace the existing and rather lack-lustre lounge, while Kuala Lumpur is most notable for being the home of new Qantas chum and soon-to-be Oneworld patrner Malaysia Airlines.

Qantas is also splashing out on a new fuel-efficient Airbus A320 aircraft for the premium airline, in which it will have a 49% stake alongside yet-to-be-named partners.

Joyce affirms the new airline "will offer same-day services to and within Asia, and overall frequencies from Australia to Asia will grow. For the first time in our history, Qantas intends to fully participate in the benefits of an Asian hub."

As Australian Business Traveller previously reported, Qantas has trademarked the name "RedQ", along with "RedQ Executive Flyer" as a name associated with a loyalty scheme, while an Australian intellectual property lawyer is now listed as the holder of the RedQ.com and RedQ.com.au Internet addresses. Qantas has also registered OneAsia and RedSky.