Qantas head Geoff Dixon has confirmed he will seek to extend his contract beyond the end of its present term.

The former country reporter turned airline executive is expected to seek a 12-month extension of his present role until July 1, 2008.

"It's really for the chairman to say," Mr Dixon, 66, noted during a Paris stopover for meetings of the oneworld airlines alliance, of which Qantas is a member, and the International Air Transport Association.
Pressed whether he would pack his bags on July 1 this year, Mr Dixon told reporters: "I'd expect I'll be staying longer than the middle of next year."

Mr Dixon was appointed managing director of the national flag carrier in 2001 and has since led the airline through one of the most turbulent periods in world aviation history.

Qantas has survived the storm of airline collapses that followed September 11, the war with Iraq and the SARS outbreak and has overseen the successful launch of discount offshoot, Jetstar.

Mr Dixon yesterday also dismissed claims that Qantas was seeking to buy the family-owned trucking business Linfox and expand its freight business.

In other developments yesterday, Japan Airlines was made a oneworld partner, joining an eight-member alliance that includes Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Iberia, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus.

The weekend Paris meeting also heard that interlining between oneworld partners -- one carrier selling connecting flights on another partner -- generated total revenues of more than $US1.8 billion ($A2.4 billion) in 2005.

It was also learned yesterday that Hong Kong-based oneworld member Cathay Pacific was close to announcing a takeover of China-focused rival Dragonair in a deal reported to be worth $US1.3 billion.

Qantas shares rose 4c to $3.24.