ACCC authorises five more years of Qantas-Emirates coordination

ACCC authorises five more years of Qantas-Emirates coordination
Edited by Travel Weekly


    Qantas and Emirates have been given the green light to continue coordinating their passenger and cargo operations for the next five years by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    The partnership covers routes between Australia and the UK/Europe, New Zealand, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

    “We think this continual coordination will benefit travellers by facilitating connectivity between a wide range of destinations as well as optimising earning and redemption opportunities from their respective loyalty rewards programs,” ACCC commissioner Anna Brakey said.

    “Passengers travelling on routes where Qantas and Emirates provide overlapping services will have greater choice of flight times and travel options.”

    However, the ACCC has said that it is concerned that the coordination between Qantas and Emirates could impact competition on the Sydney to Christchurch route as Air New Zealand is the only other airline to operate this route.

    “We have granted authorisation with a condition that Qantas and Emirates must provide regular updates on passenger revenue and operating costs to enable us to monitor competition on this route over the next five years,” Brakey said.

    The partnership was originally given authorisation in 2013 and then again in 2018 for a five year period ending on 23 March 2023. The ACCC granted interim authorisation to enable Qantas and Emirates and their related entities (including Jetstar) to continue coordinating their operations while the ACCC assesses their substantive application for re-authorisation.

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