Aussie air travel chief could encourage credit cards use

Qantas is to target the Asian market.

The increased use of credit cards to buy flights with Qantas Airways may be an aim for one of the company's bosses.

Chief executive officer Alan Joyce, speaking to Bloomberg, outlined plans to reach out to appeal to travellers in China and persuade them to fly with Qantas.

Australia-based Qantas is forming a brand new luxury carrier for the Asian market and hopes it will trigger an upturn in financial performance.

Mr Joyce said there is now a "huge opportunity" for the airline to succeed in the continent, thanks to its new range of premium and low-cost services.

A strong presence in China – the world's most populated nation and home to a booming economy – is said to be one of the key factors in creating larger cash reserves at the Australian business.

Increased spending on credit cards was one factor highlighted by Eynas Brodie, editor of Australian Property Investors, when she recently set out a path to a brighter economic future in the country.

By Nate Sawyer