Aircraft from Qantas Airways (R) and Air New Zealand are parked next to each other at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport March 27. Qantas announced that it had held talks with Brierley Investments Ltd aimed at buying its stake in Air New Zealand to create a major regional airline. The Qantas move to buy the trans-Tasman rival is seen by analysts as an attempt to block a heavyweight alliance between Singapore Airlines and Air New Zealand, owner of Qantas' major compeititor Ansett Airlines.

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