Qantas, Emirates differ on alliance stance

Qantas, Emirates differ on alliance stance
By admin


Qantas boss Alan Joyce has underlined the airline’s commitment to the Oneworld Alliance, despite his Emirates counterpart, Tim Clark, insisting alliances are starting to “unglue”.

Speaking at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, Joyce stood by his alliance membership despite Clark’s renowned anti-alliance stance.

“Oneworld works for us because it’s more of a loose alliance than Star Alliance or Sky Team,” he said. “We’ve got partnerships through Oneworld that are very important to us.”

However, Joyce also highlighted the importance of its partnerships outside of the alliance with carriers such as China Eastern, South African Airways and, of course, Emirates.

“We can have the best of both worlds,” he said.

Clark conceded to Joyce’s defence of Oneworld saying it is “far more loose in its ability to move”, but was adamant that, overall, alliances are losing their relevance in changing times.

“Alliance structures which were conceived in the 80s and executed in the early 90s are a reflection of the way things used to be,” he said. “But things are changing, markets are evolving – the airline business has got to be reactive to that and not to the way alliance structures want you to work.”

Meanwhile, Joyce confirmed both airlines are already looking at how to take the alliance forward with “real possibilities” in the area of aircraft design. He also identified the possibility of the two carriers working together on new routes, although traffic restrictions are a significant impediment.

But he stressed the immediate focus is on bedding down the alliance in its current format before deciding upon its next phase.

“Let’s walk before we run and get the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific right,” Joyce said. “Once we get the basics together like codeshares and alignment of product then other things will evolve from that.”

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