FEW people will be surprised by an announcement, expected this week, that Qantas Airways' operating permit to the territory is being renewed.
Officially, a dispute between Hong Kong and Australia had put flights between the two points in jeopardy.
A failure to agree by April 29 would have meant no services between the territory and Australia by Cathay Pacific Airways or Qantas.
A renewed permit for Qantas was to be expected; in reality, it was a certainty, as both sides have far too much to lose with an air war.
It started with Cathay crying foul - Qantas, said Cathay, was taking too many Hong Kong originating passengers from the territory on its onward flights to Singapore and Bangkok - Cathay's so-called 'fifth freedom' traffic.
Qantas said it was not taking too many.
