THE Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has granted preliminary authorisation for the proposed Qantas and Emirates partnership, which will enable both carriers to work together on joint sales, marketing and pricing strategies.
“This decision means we can determine pricing, capacity and scheduling with Emirates, in addition to the more logistical aspects of the partnership that we have been working through already,” said Qantas Group CEO, Alan Joyce.
“For consumers, interim authorisation means we can provide details on fares and allow people to book one-stop destinations on most parts of the combined Emirates and Qantas network.”
The decision includes a condition that Qantas and Emirates do not coordinate on services between Australia and New Zealand, as New Zealand’s law does not allow interim approval.
Fares on the combined network, which will be for travel from April 2013, are expected to be available in coming weeks once discussions on pricing have taken place. These services remain subject to regulatory approval.
Joyce said part of selling the Emirates and Qantas network would include marketing of Australian regional destinations to a wider international audience.
“Through this partnership and with interim authorisation, Emirates will now be able to market Qantas destinations like Hobart and the Gold Coast to their customers, which is a real benefit for Australian tourism,” he added.
ACCC’s final decision is expected to be announced in March.
