Dhaka, May 24 -- Qantas is banking on its frequent flyers, buying a majority stake in a burgeoning NSW-based online travel business.

The purchase of a 51 per cent stake in TripADeal for an undisclosed price comes days after Qantas announced it was buying the remainder of charter flight operator Alliance Aviation. It has also placed a multibillion-dollar order for new planes as it prepares for take-off on the world's longest routes - direct from Australia to London and New York. Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said the TripADeal purchase would allow the airline to immediately expand its exposure to the estimated $13 billion online packaged holiday booking market. It was enjoying significant growth, as leisure demand boomed and con...