The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has just issued a draft decision proposing to grant authorisation for the Joint Business Agreement between Qantas and American Airlines.
The pact will allow the airlines to coordinate services between Australia, New Zealand and the USA, as well as on their respective services which support the trans-Pacific routes.
“The ACCC considers that the JBA is likely to result in new and improved products and services, including improved schedules and connectivity,” said new ACCC chairman Rod Sims.
He said the ACCC doesn’t consider that the alliance will have any anticompetitive effects, because the carriers don’t currently provide any overlapping direct services between Australia and the USA.
Further submissions will now be sought in relation to the draft determination prior to making a final decision, the ACCC said.
More information in today’s Travel Daily.