Airline alliance to boost Aussie beef sales

A new alliance between two major airlines is tipped to benefit Australian beef exporters.

The Qantas-Emirates deal will take Europe visitors via Dubai, a market that has huge sales in high-end Australian beef.

Jamie Ferguson, from Meat and Livestock Australia in the Middle East, says the airline alliance means more visitors will be buying Australian beef in Dubai.

"We're talking about 70 flights a week from Australia, 60 million visitors through the Dubai airport every year," Mr Ferguson said.

"It's really the four and five star hotel market and our Australian grain fed, wagyu and premium Australian grass fed is extremely well positioned.

"It holds a high esteem amongst the chefs and food service operators.

"We're constantly working with the food service sector to build demand for Aussie product."

Emirates CEO Tim Clark (left) and Qantas CEO Alan Joyce shake hands during a
media conference in Sydney to announce that Qantas flights to Europe will stop
over in Dubai under a 10-year partnership signed between the two airlines.

Source: ABC News, 17 May 2013