ACCC approval for alliance plans
Competition regulators have authorised an affiliation agreement between Emirates and FlyDubai and a commercial alliance between Etihad and Air Berlin.
The Emirates plan will see both airlines coordinate operations on international flights and cargo between Australia and Dubai and on “behind and beyond” Emirates and Flydubai services.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims said the agreement would result in “public benefits” by enabling the two airlines to offer “improved products and services” to their customers.
Etihad and Air Berlin meanwhile will coordinate international flights between Australia and Germany via Abu Dhabi. Codeshares are already in place for Air Berlin passengers flying from Germany through Abu Dhabi and onto Australia.
“The ACCC does not consider that the commercial alliance will have any significant anti-competitive effects,” Sims said. “Etihad and Air Berlin do not currently operate overlapping routes to and from Australia.”
Meanwhile, the ACCC has also granted approval to Star Alliance for its Corporate Plus, Conventions Plus and Meetings Plus programs for eight years.
The authorisation allows Star Alliance carriers to jointly offer discounted fares and incentives to corporate customers and conference organisers “under one contract”.
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