In 2012, China Eastern Airlines, Qantas and gambling magnate Stanley Ho, who owns one of the biggest hotel and casino portfolios in Macau, formed a joint venture to create Jetstar Hong Kong, a subsidiary of the Australian low-cost group Jetstar - itself a subsidiary of Qantas. Cathay Pacific has thrown all its weight behind preventing the creation of this airline, which would threaten Cathay on its regional routes. The lobby was effectiveDespite pressure from the Australian government, which refuses to grant additional traffic rights to Hong Kong airlines.
In the end, Hong Kong's flight licensing authority rejected Jetstar's application, arguing that the company did not have its main base in Hong KongThis will enable Cathay to retain its privileges in the negotiation of traffic rights. This will enable Cathay to retain its privileges in the negotiation of traffic rights. Jetstar was planning to launch routes to Korea, Japan, China and South-East Asia. There are currently three passenger airlines officially based in Hong Kong: Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Dragonairand Hong Kong Airlines.
