Qantas revamps biz class to fend off Virgin Blue

SYDNEY - Qantas Airways Ltd is revamping business-class services as Virgin Blue Holdings Ltd and Tiger Airways Holdings Ltd threaten its 90 percent share of Australia's corporate travel market.

The nation's biggest carrier will refurbish airport lounges, develop new food menus and revamp business-class cabins, Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said on Wednesday in an interview at a conference in Sydney. The carrier is also implementing new technology to make it easier for frequent flyers to track their bags, check in and avoid queues, in a bid to retain clients.

"It's about raising the bar for what business travelers can expect," said Joyce. "This isn't a defensive strategy - it's about setting the pace to keep our customers."