Qantas boss Canberra-bound

Qantas chief Alan Joyce will push for the government to level the playing field when he visits Canberra on Wednesday.

In December, Qantas flagged a $300 million underlying loss for the six months to the end of 2013, which prompted ratings agencies Standard & Poor's and Moody's to downgrade its credit rating to junk status.

In response to the loss, the airline is cutting costs and has been lobbying the federal government for its support.

The airline has repeatedly said it does not want a handout from the government, but it wants the government to help provide a level playing field with Virgin.

The airline regards the playing field in aviation as unfair given majority foreign-owned Virgin attracts high levels of foreign investment from other airlines but Qantas is restricted from doing do.

"We'll see what Alan Joyce has to say," Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane told the ABC on Tuesday when asked if the government would offer Qantas a debt guarantee.

The airline will move some of its aircraft maintenance services overseas, which will result in Australian job losses.

Mr Joyce is expected to meet federal politicians while he is in Canberra to deliver an address.