Alan Joyce has hinted he could use Qantas’ status as the world’s safest airline to negotiate a cut-price deal to buy Boeing’s troubled 737MAX when it returns to service.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce upped the stakes in his negotiation with staff over the upcoming London to Sydney route, telling reporters there was “no shortage of pilots” ready to take on the assignment.

Canada’s WestJet has confirmed the appointment of long-term aviation executive Billy Nolen, who has taken the role of Vice-President Safety, Security and Quality at the Calgary based airline.

The ongoing novel Coronavirus outbreak has led global carriers to suspend – or significantly reduce – their presence in Mainland China in recent days. This is now impacting Hong Kong with two of America’s largest carriers announcing a temporary suspension of services to the city.