Qantas and Emirates win battle for coordination.
The ACCC has issued a draft determination proposing to authorise Qantas and Emirates to continue coordinating activities such as planning, scheduling, operating, sales, marketing, pricing, and joint airport facilities for another five years.
“The ACCC considers that the proposed conduct would be likely to result in public benefits, including increased connectivity and convenience and greater loyalty program benefits for consumers,” ACCC Commissioner Anna Brakey said.
However, the ruling does include a condition requiring Qantas and Emirates to provide the ACCC with information so that it can monitor the competitive dynamics on the Sydney to Christchurch route, because Air New Zealand is the only other airline operating the service.
The application to continue coordinating efforts between the two major carriers has been met with plenty of resistance, notably from the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, who has previously pushed back on key elements of the request, highlighting issues around the “continuation of coordination on distribution strategies for passengers and agents”.
More details in tomorrow’s issue of Travel Daily.